Danny Hay first came to Georgia from Campbeltown, Scotland, in 1967. Danny immediately got involved in Soccer. He assisted Gus Renson and his brother, Peter Hay, in organizing an amateur soccer league. Danny was selected early on for the league’s All-Star Team against such competitors as the Atlanta Chiefs, the U.S. Army Select Team, and the Italian Touring Team. By 1971 Danny was playing with the semi-professional Atlanta Metros against international teams from Germany, Italy, Ireland and Mexico.

While Danny continued to excel as a player over many years, his greater impact was as a motivator, developer and coach in youth soccer in Georgia. Danny arrived in Decatur, Georgia, on June 15, 1967. That same week, Walter Gray asked Danny to assist him in training four teams age seven to ten years with the Soccer Youth League of Georgia, one of the three very first youth soccer groups organized in Georgia.

By 1970 Danny began coaching young teams in the Decatur DeKalb YMCA program. His U-12 Westchester Wildcat team represented Georgia in the very first Southeastern Regional competition held in New Orleans, Louisiana. In the mid-1970s he began coaching in the American Soccer Association. In 1977 his U-14 Celtic team not only won two Georgia championships but also represented Georgia in the Southeast Region competition that was held in Georgia. In 1978 they went to the Southeast Region competition held in Florida and again in 1979 in Dallas, Texas. In 1980 Danny’s U-16 Celtics won the state championship and represented Georgia in the Southeast Championship competition in Mississippi, and won the Southeast Championship with a 5-0 score in the final against the Florida Champions – this was Georgia’s very first Gold Medal. This win for Georgia stood for 22 years. This win also put Danny’s U-16 Celtics in the eight team final for the North American Championship in Canada, where the Celtic team came in third, a remarkable achievement for a Georgia team in those early days.

In 1981, Danny moved up to coach the U-19 age group. His U-19 Hurricanes won the Athens tournament by winning over the defending national champion from St. Louis, Missouri. This Georgia win still stands today. In 1982, Danny’s team, now part of the Datagraphic Soccer Club, became Southeast Regional champion after defeating Tulsa, by a 5-0 score in that final – this was Georgia’s second Gold Medal. The Hurricanes went on to the national finals where they placed third in the nation. This was the first time Georgia placed in the nationals and this placement still stands today.
In 1983 Danny coached his U – 19 Datagraphic team to the Georgia State championship, then went on to also win a gold medal in the Junior Olympic Tournament in Memphis, Tennessee. That was the same year that Danny coached both teams that competed in the U – 19 State Final in Georgia. In that unusual event, both of Danny’s teams met in the championship game, with Danny coaching the U – 19 Datagraphics and his Assistant Coach/nephew, Jackie Colville, heading Danny’s Datagraphic ’67 team. U – 19 Datagraphic won 1 – 0!

In 1985 Danny coached a new Datagraphic youth team to the Georgia championship, and then again to the Southeast Regional competition where his team lost the championship game against the Texas team in a penalty kick tie-breaker. In 1986, Danny coached his last U – 19 Datagraphic team to the Georgia State championship, and again led them in the Southeast Regional competition.

In 1987, after the tragic loss of one of Danny’s players, Chris Tonne, to Leukemia, Danny put together the “Chris Tonne Memorial Tournament.” Danny’s team won that tournament which to this day is one of Danny’s most valued wins.

After an outstanding career in Georgia from 1967 to 1986 as a player and coach, Danny retired from active participation. He has left an outstanding legacy of accomplishments. Many of his players have gone on to excel as players, coaches, motivators, organizers and leaders in their own right. Through his pioneering efforts he has been an important, tangible contributor to soccer in Georgia.