Bob Boyd, who I will say was simply the best basketball coach in USC history, died today at 84. If you talk to coaches like Bobby Knight, Dale Brown or Tim Floyd, they would tell you how great a coach Boyd really was.
The last time USC defeated a No. 1 team was in 1970, when Boyd led the Trojans to an upset over UCLA, 87-86. It was the Bruins’ second loss ever at Pauley Pavilion. Boyd also defeated No. 1-ranked UCLA in 1969, the Bruins’ first loss at Pauley Pavilion.
Here’s the statement from USC:
-FORMER USC MEN’S BASKETBALL COACH BOB BOYD DIES
LOS ANGELES—Bob Boyd, who led the USC men’s basketball program to great heights as its head coach for 13 years in the 1960s and 1970s after a stellar playing career at Troy, died Wednesday (Jan. 14) afternoon of natural causes in Palm Desert, Calif. He was 84.
He had planned to attend this evening’s USC men’s basketball game against UCLA in the Galen Center with his son, Bill, but he passed away earlier in the day.
Services are pending.
Boyd’s Trojans went 216-131 overall from 1967 through 1979 and played in the post-season 4 times (the 1979 NCAA playoffs, 1973 NIT and 1974 and 1975 Commissioner’s Conference tourney). His 1971 Trojan team, which went 24-2 and was ranked No. 5 nationally (Troy was No. 1 at midseason), is regarded among USC’s best (he also won 24 games in 1974). His wins over UCLA in 1969 and 1970 were the Bruins’ first losses in Pauley Pavilion. He was twice named the conference Coach of the Year. He sent 10 Trojans into the NBA, including Paul Westphal and Gus Williams.
A 3-year letterman (1950-52), he was Troy’s MVP as a senior in 1952.
Boyd then began his coaching career, first for 5 years in the high school ranks (at El Segundo and Alhambra Highs), then for 6 years at the junior college level at Santa Ana College (his 1959 team finished second at the state tournament) and then collegiately, first at Seattle University, where he went 41-13 in 2 seasons (1964-65). After a year out of coaching while working for Converse, he became USC’s head coach
After USC, he went on to be the head coach at Mississippi State (1982-86), Riverside Community College (1989) and Chapman (1990-92), and then was an assistant at LSU and Utah State.
He was inducted into the USC Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Pac-12 Basketball Hall of Honor in 2004.
Boyd is survived by sons Bill, who played basketball at USC under his father from 1973 to 1976, Jim and John, plus 10 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty, and a son, Bruce.
How can this be? According to Ugly we never beat them at anything!
Do you have no compassion or sense of what is appropriate ? Is it possible to set aside the snarky and “funny” insults for just a few minutes and allow a good persons passing to be honored with respect?
My bad!
Nice
On the USC pre-game show they made the announcement about 10 minutes ago – Bill Boyd told the USC announcers Bob was planing on being at the game this evening – very sudden his passing.
Bob Boyd’s SC teams had the misfortune of playing in a time when only one team from the conference could get into the NCAAs. Most years it was SUCLA’s cheating Wooden.
But he beat Lew Alcindor twice in a row in the 1969-70 season, the first one being a slow down game of something like 47-46
I still recall the Paul Westphal/Gus Johnson guard team that narrowly lost to the SUCLA star forwards’ team. Westphal, Gus and Riley were a team that could have gone all the way to the championship except for those narrowly drawn NCAA limiting rules.
I talked to Coach Boyd a few years ago and he was always patient and accommodating. Long live his memory.
Not once Jersey Johnnie, have I ever heard Coach Boyd make one excuse for never winning the Pac-8 conf. BB championship or cry because teams failed to advance to the NCAA Tournament.
Nor have I ever heard Coach Boyd announce John Wooden and UCLA cheated their way to 10 BB NC’s. Coach Boyd was a 100% Trojan CLASS ACT and I mourn his passing.
Why not take tip from Coach Boyd, “Shut your Yap.”
Shut your own yap louse – Boyd once stated when asked about Wooden “I could beat Wooden, I couldn’t beat Gilbert!”
“Boyd once stated hwne (sic) asked about Wooden…” Drunk as usual uh Otis.
Today a great Trojan expired and leave it at that.
The kettle calling the pot black.
You’re kidding, right.
“Pot calling the kettle black. ” Jersey Johnnie = non sequitur ad infinitum.
Jersey me Lad, are you just mentally challenged or do you prefer to scribble inane statements when a coherent point eludes (90% of the time) you.
So, just to recap, Jersey, Bob Boyd, a great Trojan BB coach has expired. Wolf’s thread is a well deserved sports eulogy for Coach Boyd. You Jersey, don’t deserve squat.
So I reiterate the original suggestion, for your own sake and self respect – shut your yap.
Bob Boyd was a great BB coach. He beat UCLA twice with slow- slow down tactics.
Had Boyd coached his teams during the expanded team NCAA tournament era, it’s quite possible, SUCC could have at least one NCAA BB NC.
RIP Coach Boyd.
Now that was nice of you! I didn’t think you had it in you! See you don’t always have to stick the knife in! Good post! Thanks
Decon
One of the few great coaches in USC history. He got all he could out of his kids.
Boyd would be spinning in his coffin way the trojans are rolling over and getting trashed by a very sub-par UCLA team tonight.
Fight on Bob Boyd. A great Trojan!
In 1974 as an 8 year old my dad took me to a UCLA USC game, and as we waited around outside Pauley for the Bruins to come out and get some autographs. I saw a very tall man coming up the stairs towards the exit and I remember he walked straight towards me, he rubbed my head and smiled at me. I didn’t know who he was, but several people were asking him for his autograph, i asked my dad who he was, and he told me he was the USC coach.
Nice man. R.I.P. Bob Boyd
Watched him coach some great teams and great players…glad he led a great life outside basketball too…