Women’s Soccer Coach Kevin Boyd Resigns From Post

After last season, one would think Cal women’s soccer coach Kevin Boyd would have wanted to return for his 11th year.

Injuries and off-the-field issues hindered a Bears squad that was ranked No. 10 in the preseason and saw its season end in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

However, athletic director Sandy Barbour said in a statement released Tuesday that Boyd has tendered his resignation.

Boyd leaves as the Bears’ winningest coach, compiling a 124-63-20 record in 10 years at the helm.

Boyd is also the only coach in the program’s history with 100 victories.

“Obviously it seems sudden, but it really isn’t sudden, it’s been something I’ve been thinking about for awhile,” Boyd said. “I love Cal, I love the team and that’s what has been keeping me here for the last couple of years.”

Boyd said he is leaving to attend to new family priorities, which include becoming a new father and possibly moving back to his hometown of Boise, Idaho, with his girlfriend.

“It was an extremely difficult decision. I’ve been thinking about it more and more,” Boyd said. “After this season, I thought that I could go one more fall. Once I found that I was going to be a father, it changed my priorities. I wanted to be back with my family.”

Boyd was named Pac-10 Coach of the Year in 2005 and led Cal to a conference co-championship in 1998. The Bears went to the round of 16 of the NCAAs in 2005.

Boyd said that he will help the program through its transition period in the spring, but does not think that he will be involved in a search for a new coach.

He also said that he hopes that his assistant coaches, Jennifer Thomas and Maite Zabala, are able to stay on with the team.

Last year, the Bears finished with a 12-5-5 record and made a run to the second round of the NCAA tournament. The team finished the season with a No. 19 ranking.

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