The hiring of Bill Khayat ushered in an era of unprecedented success in the annals of Brevard College football, transforming the Tornados from perennial also-rans to present-day power players. As a first-time head coach, as well as the offensive coordinator and tight ends coach, he took over a program in late January of 2017 that had only one winning season in its entire NCAA history. Saddled with a returning roster of just 17 players at the start of spring practice and with not much hope to even field a team, he achieved swift and extraordinary success against challenging odds. By the end of his third season, Khayat posted a stunning .800 winning percentage along with a bowl invitation and victory. At the completion of his fourth season and another .800 winning percentage, the Tornados were the reigning USA South Western Division Co-Champions garnering a national ranking of 15 from D3 in the Huddle. Fueled by this remarkable upward trajectory and rewriting of the record books, the 2021 training camp roster expanded to 143, reflecting the exponential interest in the program. Before season five came to a close, Khayat would become the winningest coach in Brevard history. Season six saw the ever-growing interest in the program result in enough players for the creation of a junior varsity squad. The year culminated in the Brevard Tornados’ inclusion in the NC Football News “Best in State” Power Rankings headlining the top twelve college programs in North Carolina regardless of division. Season seven continued in an established pattern of excellence as a fifth consecutive winning season was attained with a superb 23-9 record in conference play history. At the end of season eight, USA South statistics displayed the dominance of the Tornados’ performance. As a team and/or individually, the 2024 squad (5-2) garnered numerous number one and number two conference rankings in offensive, defensive, and special teams’ categories. The original roster of 17 fades in memory as the strength and success of Coach Khayat’s program continues to generate enthusiastic interest. A current roster of 261, representing an astounding 1435.9% increase in personnel, is projected to report for pre-season training in August.
2024 – Another winning conference record is in the books, with the Tornados establishing a new standard for the concept of a successful balanced attack. Some of the USA South’s highlights that Nado fans were treated to included: the conference’s number one Offense in scoring, rushing and offensive efficiency; the season’s highest scoring game; the top four game highs for passing TDs; a Defense anchored by the Defensive Player of the Year who ranked number one in sacks, forced fumbles, and tackles for loss. The Tornados also fielded the leader in interceptions, and the longest return. To complete an impressive trifecta, Special Teams contributed with a number one ranking in PATs, kickoff returns, and net yds per punt, including the longest punt return of the season, and the most kicking points scored in a single game. Five players earned bids to play in post-season bowl games, and four players earned five spots on the D3 Football.com’s All-region 3 team. The “student” part of student-athlete also set records. Besting last year’s totals, five players were named to the NFF Hampshire Honor Society and four were chosen to the CSC Football Academic All-District team.
2023 - Academically, the Tornados set a school record with the selection of four team members to the prestigious National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society. Athletically, the program continued to prosper. In addition to his role as head coach and offensive coordinator, Khayat took on the task of coaching the wide receivers, and at season’s end Brevard claimed the top spot among the USA South receiving corps. Success on the field was spearheaded not only by the leading receiver in the conference but also by the second leading rusher, a three-time Special Teams D3 Player of the Week, and record setting defensive players. With this balanced, productive style of play, the Tornados afforded Nado Nation an entertaining and explosive 5-2 conference season, which included a victorious triple overtime thriller.
2022 – Khayat’s Tornados finished with their fourth consecutive season without a losing record, posting a 27-15 record versus all D-III opponents and only 11 losses in 5 years in the USA South. Individual academic and athletic recognition were plentiful with selections to the prestigious NFF Hampshire Honor Society, CSC Academic All-District, 1st and 2nd Team All-Conference, as well as numerous Players of the Week representing offense, defense, and special teams.
2021 – During the fall season, the Tornados under Khayat’s leadership recommenced on their path of excellence. Accolades in all phases of the game, both in conference and nationally, continued making their entry into the program’s record books. A dominant defense led the USA South in many statistical categories and also ranked in the top five in the country in multiple categories. By season’s end Khayat posted a triad of history-making accomplishments: He became Brevard’s all-time winningest coach, guided the Tornados to an unparalleled three consecutive winning seasons, and finished the season with a best-ever record of conference wins (6-2). Ten players won USA South Conference postseason awards, including the Defensive Player of the Year, with five selected to the First Team. The Tornados added seven more, representing all phases of the game, to the ranks of Division III Players of the Week for a total of twenty such national awards garnered by Brevard since becoming eligible in 2017. CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team and Preseason All-American Second Team selections were also an elite recognition of the 2021 Tornado squad.
2020 – The Covid-delayed season moved to the spring of 2021. Always a keen judge of his players’ talents, Khayat had converted last season’s starting quarterback to a tight end/H-back who subsequently scored three touchdowns in a conference game and was named D3.com’s Tight End of the Week. Injury necessitated a change to this newly revamped offense in the second game of the season and now featured a third string freshman quarterback who in his first two games was awarded consecutive Offensive Rookie of the Week honors. Another injury at the position forced a change yet again. Undaunted, the Tornados finished the schedule without a loss and tallied 44 points in the last conference game. In the two games played at home, Khayat called an offense that scored 71 points to 17 against conference opponents, and with a consecutive .800 winning percentage produced the first back-to-back winning seasons in school history. Brevard’s win/loss record since November of 2018 stands at 14-3.
Accolades both in conference and nationally continued in historic numbers in all phases of game, including a D3 Football.com All-American and All-Region selection and ten Team of the Week honorees. Ten players were also named to the USA South Conference Football All-West Division along with the two-time USA South Offensive Rookie of the Week, a Defensive Rookie of the Week, and a Defensive Player of the week. Exceptional academic recognition was awarded as well. Twelve players were named USA South Academic All-Conference, two to the CoSIDA Academic All-District Team, and three to the prestigious National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society.
In their first year of eligibility to contend for the conference title and statistically dominant in their division, the Tornados were eliminated from play by a controversial last-minute decision in which a coin toss decided the participating team. Nonetheless, Brevard posted more wins overall at the final tally than the eventual title holder, and the number 15 ranking by D3 In the Huddle was 10 places higher than the conference winner. A dominating defense ranked tenth nationally. Named Co-Champions of the USA South Western Division, it was the first postseason title in Brevard history.
2019 – In three short seasons, Khayat not only took a program that had languished in the loser’s column for a decade to the winner’s column but also to the realization of a dream held by all teams—an invitation to play in a bowl game—and better yet, deliver a victory.
Picked to finish sixth in the USA South preseason poll, the Tornados finished in second place after posting a historic record setting season. Their 8-2 finish was the most single season wins in the NCAA era. An .800 winning percentage was best in history. Most conference wins and wins on the road were posted as well.
As in previous seasons, players excelled in all phases of the game with six chosen as USA South Players of the Week, five selected for conference post-season honors, and four selected to D3 Football.com’s National Team of the Week. Nineteen interceptions tied for third in all of NCAA Division III and set a school record as did 23 turnovers, 105 points allowed, and 11.7 points-per-game allowed. The four touchdowns scored on defense tied for the lead in the USA South.
The season finale featured a berth in the ECAC Scotty Whitelaw Bowl versus Carnegie Mellon. Play against CMU’s long-established and successful program was dominant in all phases. Offense, defense, and special teams all contributed touchdowns. Nine sacks and a 262-25 rushing advantage highlighted the convincing 42-28 victory.
His student-athletes completed over 600 hours of community service and 40% of his roster were named to the Dean’s List/Honor Roll—all accomplished while earning the best record of any team sport in Brevard College history.
2018 – Continued building process with a returning squad of sixty-six percent freshmen and six seniors. Once again, despite the youth, multiple school records were set in every phase of the game. The same held true for conference play. In their first year of eligibility for post-season accolades, Brevard lead in receiving touchdowns, sacks, tackles, passing defense, fumble recoveries, return yardage, and blocked punts. Six players represented in at least one position—offense, defense, and special teams—on the USA South All-Conference team.
He created and called an explosive offense that helped the freshman quarterback break 2017 school records, set new ones, and be named USA South Conference Offensive Rookie of the Year. Conference records included ranking first in passing touchdowns and total completions and second in passing yards per game, completions percentage, and average yards per game.
Converted QB-to-wide receiver broke his own 2017 records and in just two seasons became Brevard’s NCAA-era career record holder for receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, and average yards per game. He also garnered a first place in conference ranking for receiving touchdowns.
Fans witnessed games featuring the most single-game receptions in history, most passing touchdowns in a single game, and experienced the best home record in Brevard’s NCAA-era history. USA South ranked team first in in passing touchdowns, passing first downs, and second in completions and time of possession.
2017 – Despite a late start taking over a team with only one winning season in the previous 10, coupled with a returning squad of just 24 players (reduced to 17 by spring training) only 6 of whom were seniors, Khayat was able to hire top-notch assistants and together they recruited and filled a competitive roster. Even though freshmen made up seventy-five percent of the team, multiple individual and team school records were set in every phase of the game—offense, defense, and special teams. The six seniors who chose to remain on the team experienced winning more games in their final season than they had experienced in their careers to date.
Khayat’s expertise in evaluating talent and its optimal use prompted his changing the roles of the team’s two former quarterbacks, one becoming a record setting tight end and the other a record setting wide receiver. Some of these single season records actually eclipsed the career records of former players assigned to similar positions.
As offensive coordinator, he installed an offense implemented by a junior transfer quarterback protected by an all-freshmen offensive line. This pro-style approach finished among the top five in program history in seven major team categories
including ranking first in passing yards and first quarter points, second in fourth quarter points and fourth in total points, first downs, total offense yards and red zone scores.
Though not eligible for conference recognition due to reclassification, individual players—quarterback, tight end, wide receiver, linebackers, and kicker—posted first or second place numbers in all phases of the game. The 2017 unit also became the first in Brevard’s NCAA program history to post not only a winning record on the road but also the first back-to-back road victories since the 2010 season. They also claimed victory over all their in-state conference opponents. 2017 also saw the Tornados, for just the second time in their history, post two fifty-plus points in downing their opponents.
At his hiring Khayat was described variously by Brevard President, David Joyce, and Athletic Director, Juan Mascaro, as having vision, energy, and charisma for the game of football, a hands-on coach with a real commitment to academic and athletic success, someone who knows how to build a winning program, and has the drive to make Brevard College a Division III powerhouse. By any measure, Coach Khayat, in his first stint at the helm of a college program, validated those assessments. The ensuing eight seasons are also a testament to Khayat’s delivering on his own promise to produce a squad of prepared, productive players who would establish a legacy of excellence for the Brevard College Football Tornados.
BACKGROUND
Bill Khayat hails from a football family. His father, Eddie Khayat, a member of the Tulane Hall of Fame and a thirty-five-year veteran of the NFL, ten as a player and twenty-five as a coach, was the starting defensive tackle for the 1960 World Champion Philadelphia Eagles. He was subsequently named the team’s head coach in 1971. His uncle, Robert Khayat, a member of the Ole Miss Hall of Fame and the Chancellor Emeritus of the University of Mississippi, was a Pro Bowl kicker for the Washington Redskins and the recipient of the NFL’s Alumni Achievement Award and the National Football Foundation Distinguished American Award. Both are also members of the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.
PLAYING CAREER
Khayat, a First Team All-State tight end from York Catholic High School (York, Pa.), had his jersey retired in 1991, and he was later inducted into the school’s Sports Hall of Fame. He went on to have a record setting career at Duke University where he became the first tight end in 25 years to lead the Blue Devils in receiving. As a junior, he was an Honorable Mention All-America choice. Other honors included: Duke’s Outstanding Receiver Award, two-time All-ACC (Second Team), First Team All-Carolina, Academic All-ACC, and the Iron Dukes Academic All-Star team. He also set records for receptions and yardage in the 1995 Hall of Fame Bowl. Khayat followed up his college career with stints at the Kansas City Chiefs, Carolina Panthers, and NFL Europe’s Barcelona Dragons.
COACHING CAREER
Khayat began his coaching career as the tight ends coach at Tennessee State University. During two separate turns at TSU (2000–2003, 2013–2015), his coaching achievements included: two All-America and four All-OVC tight ends, an All-America/Walter Payton Award finalist and All-OVC running back, two All-OVC offensive linemen, and one All-OVC kick returner.
Khayat’s NFL coaching experience includes three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals (2004–2006) as offensive quality control coach and assistant offensive line coach where he was part of an offense that led the NFL in passing yards and one that produced the NFL’s leading receiver. From 2007 to 2009, he served as the offensive quality control coach and assistant tight ends coach for the Washington Redskins, whose tight end was named to the Pro Bowl in 2008 and 2009.
Khayat went on to coach two seasons in the United Football League as the tight ends coach and assistant offensive line coach for the Sacramento Mountain Lions where he coached two players to NFL rosters. His last stop before Brevard was Scottsdale Community College where he coached running backs and was a special teams assistant.
Over the course of his career, he has been invited to coach in six prestigious college all-star games, including offensive coordinator roles in the Players All-Star Classic and the East West Shrine Game, as well as back-to-back duties as tight ends coach in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. Most recently, he was named head coach of the Tropic Bowl where he also assumed the multiple roles of offensive coordinator, quarterback coach, and tight ends coach. A second invitation for head coaching duties at the Tropic Bowl was extended at the same time as his hiring. It was an offer he chose to decline. His energy and expertise would be focused solely on charting a winning course for the Brevard College Football Tornados.
Career Record: 42-32
Postseason Record: 1-0
Winningest Coach in Program History
2024
2024: 6-3, 5-2 USAS (3rd, USA South)
D3football.com All-Region 3 First Team: Robert Dorsey
D3football.com All-Region 3 Second Team (WR AND RET): Zackary Orr
D3football.com All-Region 3 Second Team: James Woods
D3football.com All-Region 3 Third Team: Chancellor Lee-Parker
USA South Conference Defensive Player of the Year: Robert Dorsey
USA South All-Conference First Team: Robert Dorsey, Chancellor Lee-Parker, Zackary Orr (two different positions), LaRoddrick Rucker, James Woods
USA South All-Conference Second Team: Ethan Beamish, Brody Lindsey
USA South All-Conference Honorable Mention: Baylee Ramey
USA South All-Sportsmanship Team: Ernest Smith II
D3football.com Team of the Week: James Woods
D3football.com Team of the Week: Zachary Orr
USA South Offensive Player of the Week: Ethan Beamish (Three-Time)
USA South Offensive Player of the Week: Chancellor Lee-Parker
USA South Defensive Player of the Week: Robert Dorsey
USA South Defensive Player of the Week: James Woods
USA South Special Teams Player of the Week: Zackary Orr
USA South Defensive Rookie of the Week: Brandon Broughton
USA South Defensive Rookie of the Week: Chase Pfeiffer
College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team: Jordan Lindsay, Seth Marshall, Carter Raulerson, George Rennie
2023
2023: 5-5, 5-2 USAS (3rd, USA South)
USA South All-Conference First Team: Zackary Orr, Robert Dorsey
USA South All-Conference Second Team: Ethan Beamish
USA South All-Conference Honorable Mention: Chancellor Lee-Parker
USA South All-Sportsmanship Team: DJ Taylor
College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team: Nicholas Clark, Cooper Hogan
NFF Hampshire Honor Society: Luke Dodson, Eli Everhart, Kameron Moore, Joc Pledger
Three-Time USA South Special Teams Player of the Week: Hugo Taylor
USA South Offensive Player of the Week: Chancellor Lee-Parker
USA South Special Teams Player of the Week: James Woods
USA South Offensive Player of the Week: Ethan Beamish
USA South Defensive Player of the Week: Quintrell Bowman
D3football.com Team of the Week: Hugo Taylor
D3football.com Team of the Week: Chancellor Lee-Parker
D3football.com Team of the Week: Wyatt Lankford
D3football.com Team of the Week: James Woods
2022
2022: 5-5, 5-2 USAS (3rd, USA South)
College Sports Communicators Academic All-District: Luis Alvarez
4-Time USA South Conference Special Teams Player of Week: Stamati Damalos
USA South All-Conference First Team: Stamati Damalos
USA South Defensive Rookie of the Week: Obidiah Grimes
USA South All-Sportsmanship Team: Miles Hayes
College Sports Communicators Academic All-District: Cooper Hogan
USA South Defensive Player of the Week: Toby Naylor
USA South All-Conference Second Team: Toby Naylor
Cliff Harris Award Nominee: Toby Naylor
College Sports Communicators Academic All-District: Justin Parker
NFF Hampshire Honor Society: Justin Parker, Reece Rubio
USA South Defensive Player of the Week: Ernest Smith II
USA South All-Conference Second Team: Brandon Unangst
USA South Special Teams Player of the Week: James Woods
USA South Offensive Player of the Week: Mitchell Yoder
USA South All-Conference Second Team: Jerome Bass
Cliff Harris Award Nominee: Jerome Bass
Fall 2021
2021: 6-4, 6-2 USAS (3rd, USA South) (6-2 Conference Record- most single-season conference wins in program history)
D3Football.com Preseason All-American Second Team: Joc Pledger
D3Football.com All-Region 3 Second Team: Steffon Canady
D3Football.com All-Region 3 Second Team: Stamati Damalos
D3Football.com All-Region 3 Third Team: Jerome Bass
USA South Conference Defensive Player of the Year: Steffon Canady
USA South Conference All-Conference First Team: Steffon Canady
USA South Conference All-Conference First Team: Stamati Damalos
USA South Conference All-Conference First Team: Jerome Bass
USA South Conference All-Conference First Team: Dante Anderson
USA South Conference All-Conference First Team: Brandon Unangst
USA South Conference All-Conference Second Team: Brandon Norris
USA South Conference All-Conference Second Team: Toby Naylor
USA South Conference All-Conference Second Team: Mitchell Yoder
USA South Conference All-Sportsmanship Team: Luis Alvarez
CoSIDA Academic All-District: Justin Parker
D3Football.com Team of the Week: Jaden O'Leary
D3Football.com Team of the Week: Geoff Banning
D3Football.com Team of the Week: Joc Pledger
D3Football.com Team of the Week: Steffon Canady (two-time selection)
D3Football.com Team of the Week: Wyatt Lankford
D3Football.com Team of the Week: Stamati Damalos
USA South Conference Special Teams Player of the Week: Stamati Damalos (two-time selection)
USA South Conference Offensive Player of the Week: Taylor Jackson III
USA South Conference Defensive Player of the Week: Steffon Canady (two-time selection)
USA South Conference Defensive Player of the Week: Toby Naylor
Spring 2021
2020-21 (Played in Spring 2021): 4-1, 2-1 USAS, USA South Conference West Division Co-Champions
D3Football.com All-American Second Team: Joc Pledger (first in Brevard's DIII era)
D3Football.com All-Region Second Team: Toby Naylor (first in Brevard's DIII era)
USA South Conference All-Conference West Division Team: Aaron Bennett
USA South Conference All-Conference West Division Team: Damon Rouse
USA South Conference All-Conference West Division Team: Cedric Brooks
USA South Conference All-Conference West Division Team: Jamerial Parks (WR, RS)
USA South Conference All-Conference West Division Team: Justin Pendergrass
USA South Conference All-Conference West Division Team: Justin Parker
USA South Conference All-Conference West Division Team: Brandon Unangst
USA South Conference All-Conference West Division Team: Jerome Bass
USA South Conference All-Conference West Division Team: Steffon Canady
USA South Conference All-Conference West Division Team: Dante Anderson
USA South Conference All-Sportsmanship Team: Nicholas Eubanks
National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society: Gabe Rebollar-Catalan
National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society: Dante Anderson
National Football Foundation Hampshire Honor Society: Steven Hogan
CoSIDA Academic All-District: Aaron Bennett
CoSIDA Academic All-District: Justin Parker
D3Football.com Team of the Week: Joc Pledger
USA South Conference Offensive Rookie of the Week: Eli Carr
D3Football.com Team of the Week: Quentin Jackson
D3Football.com Team of the Week: Toby Naylor
USA South Conference Offensive Rookie of the Week: Eli Carr
USA South Conference Defensive Rookie of the Week: Ernest Smith III
D3Football.com Team of the Week: Dante Anderson
USA South Conference Defensive Player of the Week: Quentin Jackson
D3Football.com Team of the Week: Quentin Jackson
D3Football.com Team of the Week: Joc Pledger
D3Football.com Team of the Week: Dalton Cole
D3Football.com Team of the Week: Brevard College Offensive Line - Nicholas Eubanks, Zion Barjolo, Brandon Unangst, Ari Drake, and Todd Norman
USA South Academic All-Conference: 12 student-athletes
2019
2019: 8-2, 5-2 USAS (2nd place) (5-1 Road Record: Best in BC NCAA-Era History; 8-2 Overall Record: Most wins in School History; .800 Overall Winning Percentage: Best in Program History; 2019 ECAC Scotty Whitelaw Bowl Champions: First postseason appearance/win in Program History)
USA South Conference Defensive Rookie of the Week: Tae Sullivan
USA South Conference Special Teams Player of the Week: Jaxon Youngblood
USA South Conference Defensive Rookie of the Week: Joc Pledger
USA South Conference Defensive Rookie of the Week: Rook Tate
USA South Conference Offensive Rookie of the Week: Gerald Hines
USA South Conference Special Teams Player of the Week: Brandon Norris
D3Football.com Team of the Week: Quentin Jackson
D3Football.com Team of the Week: Jaxon Youngblood
D3Football.com Team of the Week: Rook Tate
D3Football.com Team of the Week: Jerome Bass
USA South Conference All-Conference First Team: Dante Anderson
USA South Conference All-Conference Second Team: Steffon Canady
USA South Conference All-Conference Second Team: Louis Williams III
USA South Conference All-Conference Second Team: Justin Parker
USA South Conference All-Sportsmanship Team: Brandon Whitfield
2019 ECAC Scotty Whitelaw Bowl Most Valuable Player: Steffon Canady
2019 ECAC Scotty Whitelaw Bowl Champions: 2019 Brevard College Tornados Football Team
USA South Academic All-Conference: 7 student-athletes
2018
2018: 4-6, 3-4 USAS (4-1 Home Record: Best in BC NCAA-Era History)
USA South Conference Offensive Rookie of the Week: Dalton Cole (2x)
USA South Conference Special Teams Player of the Week: Trevon Charles
USA South Conference Defensive Player of the Week: Quentin Jackson
USA South Conference Defensive Rookie of the Week: JeQwan George
USA South Conference Offensive Rookie of the Year: Dalton Cole
USA South Conference All-Conference First Team: Bubba Craven
USA South Conference All-Conference First Team: Quentin Jackson
USA South Conference All-Conference Second Team: Axel Easter
USA South Conference All-Conference Second Team: Ralph Roman III
USA South Conference All-Sportsmanship Team: Martigus Henley
2017
2017: 4-6, 3-2 road record (first winning road record in BC's NCAA-era history)
D3Football.com Team of the Week: Tyler Gregory
USA South Conference All-Sportsmanship Team: Bubba Craven
