Bob Boyd, former USC basketball coach, dies at 84

LOS ANGELES (AP) Bob Boyd, the Southern California basketball coach who led the Trojans to four postseason appearances in the 1960s and `70s, died Wednesday. He

LOS ANGELES (AP) Bob Boyd, the Southern California basketball coach who led the Trojans to four postseason appearances in the 1960s and `70s, died Wednesday. He was 84.

The school said Boyd died of natural causes at his home in Palm Desert. He had planned to attend the UCLA-USC game at Galen Center in the evening with his son. There was a moment of silence for him.

Boyd had a 216-131 record in 13 seasons from 1967-79, including reaching the 1979 NCAA tournament, 1973 NIT and 1974 and '75 Commissioner's Conference tournaments. His 1971 team went 24-2 and was ranked nationally.

His team's victories over John Wooden's UCLA teams in 1969 and 1970 were the Bruins' first defeats in Pauley Pavilion. He was a two-time conference coach of the year and coached future NBA players Paul Westphal and Gus Williams.

Boyd played basketball at USC from 1950-52, and was the team's MVP in his senior season.

He coached at Seattle University for two years in the mid-1960s, then at USC. After leaving the Trojans, he was the head coach at Mississippi State (1982-86), Riverside Community College in 1989 and Chapman University from 1990-92. He was later an assistant at LSU and Utah State.

Boyd is survived by sons Bill, who played at USC under his father from 1973-76; Jim and John; and 10 grandchildren. He was preceded in death by wife Betty and another son, Bruce.

He was inducted into the USC Athletic Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Pac-12 Basketball Hall of Honor in 2004.

Services were pending.