News About Neil Hayes

New Book!

When Bob Ladouceur took over the head coaching job at De La Salle High School, the school had never experienced a winning season. By the time Coach Lad stepped down in 2013, he had posted a 399–25–3 record, and the Spartans’ 151-game winning streak between 1992 and 2004 was the longest in the history of high school football. While guiding one of the great programs, his accomplishments were so notable that they inspired the bestselling book and major motion picture, When the Game Stands Tall.

Now, for the first time, Coach Lad shares the philosophies he employed at De La Salle, including a detailed look at the technique and fundamentals he used on offense, defense, and special teams. Far more than a book on the Xs and Os of football, this blueprint for success focuses on how Ladouceur created a winning culture based on accountability, work ethic, camaraderie, and commitment that made his teams greater than the sum of their parts.

Buy at Indie Bound 
Buy on Amazon

Chasing Perfection. Football Coaching the De La Salle way

Speaking engagement: St. Charles Writers Group

By N. Hayes

The St. Charles Writers Group has been kind enough to ask me to speak about my writing career this Saturday, July 13, at the St. Charles Library (1 S. 6th Ave., St. Charles, IL). It’s a unique opportunity to talk about my journalism career both in the San Francisco Bay Area as well as in…

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NFL Coaching Legends Belichick, Carroll, Others, Endorse ‘Chasing Perfection’

By N. Hayes

It’s safe to say there’s a lot of respect in NFL and college coaching circles for Bob Ladouceur, the former De La Salle High School (Concord, Calif.) coach who in 1979 took over a program that had never had a winning season and retired 33 years later with a 399-25-3 record and more undefeated seasons…

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Our New Book “Chasing Perfection”

By N. Hayes

Bob Ladouceur and I are thrilled to announce the completion of our latest project. Chasing Perfection: The Principles Behind Winning Football the De La Salle Way by Bob Ladouceur with Neil Hayes (Triumph, 2015) is now available at on-line booksellers and will soon be in bookstores. The 272-page book, which has a $24.95 cover price, contains everything…

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Read John Madden’s Forward to “Chasing Perfection”

By N. Hayes

Chasing Perfection is officially available in bookstores today. Hall of Fame coach and broadcaster John Madden was kind enough to write the forward. Madden also wrote the forward for “When the Game Stands Tall: The Story of the De La Salle Spartans and Football’s Longest Winning Streak.  Here’s Madden’s contribution to a book author Bob Ladouceur and…

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Various Reviews and Comments

WTGST portrait of great high school coach minus cliches

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WTGST a big-hearted, fantastic family movie

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A refreshingly good sports movie

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WTGST blends football, emotion

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WTGST explores how champions deal with loss

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WTGST raises the bar for sports films

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What Ladouceur taught me about life

READ ARTICLE

 Review:  A movie about what it takes to be great

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 Review:  A different kind of football story

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Review: ‘One of the greatest high school football movies ever made’

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Successful coaches have learned from the book, WTGST

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 Story behind The Streak can help build a winning team

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More than 1,000 attend WTGST premier near De La Salle High

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Jim Caviezel interviews DLS coach Bob Ladouceur

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Glowing review from Christian Movies calls WTGST ‘first rate’

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Bears’ LB Williams stood tall at ground zero

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Ex-Giants receiver Toomer also stood tall

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Young actors make WTGST narrative work

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Terrance Kelly’s legacy stands tall 10 years after death

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 AOL says WTGST is “must-see,” gives it an ‘A’

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 USA Today calls WTGST movie to “take note of”

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Podcast of KNBR interview with Hayes the morning after the Hollywood premier

LISTEN TO PODCAST

Review: The Global Dispatch gives WTGST four stars

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Q & A with producer David Zelon and author Neil Hayes

READ THE ARTICLE

How “When the Game Stands Tall” became a movie

READ THE ARTICLE

Diablo Magazine introduces team behind movie

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Rockford (IL) Register Star weighs in

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The latest feature video clip from the movie

SEE THE VIDEO

WTGST movie review from a woman’s perspective

READ THE ARTICLE

Winning De La Salle coach, football program inspire movie

READ THE ARTICLE

 Entertaining Faith Blog Article on Jim Caviezel

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‘When the Game Stands Tall’ gets secret screening in Pleasant Hill

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Bay Area Team Goes Hollywood

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Trailer: Football team digs deep for ‘The Game Stands Tall’

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Jim Caviezel interviewed on WSJ WSJ.com

SEE THE CLIP

Jim Caviezel on Upcoming Film ‘When The Game Stands Tall’

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Concord De La Salle football movie draws big-name actors

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Jim Caviezel Leads Cast of High School Football Drama

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Filming of “When the Game Stands Tall” on De La Salle football team to begin Monday

READ THE ARTICLE from the Contra Costa Times

KNBR Radio Interview with Neil Hayes

Hear the Podcast from KNBR 680 in the Bay Area