Bill Daye
Boston Cannons Head Coach
Bill Daye is in his fourth season as head coach of the Boston Cannons. Daye holds the unique distinction of being a player, assistant coach and head coach for the same Major League Lacrosse (MLL) team.
In 2008, Daye coached the Cannons to a winning record of 7-5 despite a very tough schedule. Unfortunately, the team was nudged from the playoffs following a heartbreaking loss to the Philadelphia Barrage in the second to last game of the season, which caused the Cannons to get the short end of a standings tiebreaker. Daye’s 2007 Cannons team also very narrowly missed appearing in the playoffs, finishing with a record of 5-7.
In 2006, Boston finished the season tied for the best home record in MLL, third in the league in scoring offense, and made their sixth consecutive playoff berth. Daye had eight of his players appear in the MLL All-Star Game. Under Daye, Cannons attackman John Christmas earned the MLL Most Improved Player award.
Daye held the position of Cannons assistant coach in 2005. He served as Boston’s defensive assistant. Under Daye the Cannons experienced a defensive resurgence. In 2004, the Cannons were last in the league in goals against, assists against and second to last in two-point goals against. In Daye’s first season as assistant coach Boston vaulted to first in assists against and two-point goals against.
Daye was a goalie for the Cannons from 2001-2002. He played 18 career regular season games for the Cannons and appeared in one postseason contest. He was named to the MLL All-Star team in 2001 and was awarded the Cannons Team MVP that same season.
The Cannons had a record of 2-1 heading into the fourth game of the 2002 when injury cut Daye’s MLL career short. Daye left that fourth game with a neck injury in the first quarter, marking the final time he appeared on the field in a Cannons uniform. Daye’s retirement was announced before the final game of the 2002 season. He attempted a comeback to the Cannons in 2004, but the effort was stopped short after he suffered an Achilles injury while training for the season.
Daye not only has an outstanding playing resume, he also carries with him a strong coaching background. Daye was an assistant coach at his alma mater, the University of North Carolina, as well as Johns Hopkins and Boston College. He coached at UNC in 1994, Hopkins in 1995 and at B.C. from 1998-1999.
An All-American in college, Daye played on the 1991 North Carolina National Championship team. A 1993 UNC graduate, he played on three NCAA Men’s Lacrosse Final Four teams and won the Tar Heels Unsung Hero Award in 1993.
In addition to his work with the Cannons, Daye is also a sales representative for Lacrosse Unlimited.
Bill and his wife Ali have two daughters, Adison (3) and Ollie (6 months). They reside in Hingham, Massachusetts.
bdaye@bostoncannons.com
