Coach, Men's Basketball, Class of 2005
The Santa Ana men's basketball program enjoyed one of the most dramatic turn grounds in school history when Bob Boyd was selected as head coach in 1957.
Prior to his arrival, the Dons posted a .500 or better winning record only three times in the previous 20 years. Following a 15-16 first year, Boyd became the first men's basketball coach to post four consecutive winning seasons when he led the Dons to their first-ever 20-win seasonand Eastern Conference title. That year, 1958-59, Santa Ana finished the year with a 26-7 overall record, the best record compiled in the first 44 years of the college, and a 12-2 conference mark.
After finishing second in Eastern Conference in 1959-60, Boyd guided Santa Ana to a share of its second Eastern Conference title in 1960-61 when the Dons finished 14-2 in league and 26-5 overall.
During his six years at the helm, Boyd won two men's basketball conference tides and guided the Dons to one state championship appearance. He currently ranks third on the Santa Ana College men's basketball all-time coaching wins list with an overall mark of 121-68 (.640). Only Dana Pagett and Rolland Todd who have won more games as head coach of the Dons with 323 and 155 wins, respectively.
Following his coaching stint at Santa Ana College, Boyd spent two years at Seattle University where the Redhawks were 41-13 in his two years and appeared in the 1964 NCAA regional basketball tournament. After taking a year off, Boyd became the head coach at his alma mater, USC, where he finished with a 216-131 overall record (.622) in 13 seasons. Boyd guided the Trojans to three 20-win seasons in 1970-71 (24-2), 1973-74 (24-5) and 1975-76 (20-9) and five second-place conference finishes.
Boyd and his wife, Betty, are retired and reside in Palm Desert, California. They havee four sons, Bill, Bruce, Jim and John.