With a big smile Springfield Township resident Micheal Boyd stood in the center of basketball court at Michigan State’s Breslin Center.
The audience cheered as he accepted the Charles R. Forsythe Award from the Michigan High School Athletic Association.
Boyd had one word to describe the feeling of getting the award on March 27 ? outstanding.
The award is given to individuals for their longevity with the program and outstanding contribution to the interscholastic athletics community.
As athletic director for Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes, Boyd has brought guideness to the coaches and athletes.
‘We have a good program and I have been here for so long,? he said. ‘I will be starting my 45th year here. I has been a great experience with the kids, athletic teams and everything,? he said.
Besides being athletic director, he has coached the boys basketball team and girls softball team – but his legend lies with the football program where his career at OLL started.
The Lakers have made it to playoffs 21 times under Boyd’s guideness, winning the MHSAA Division 8 Championship in 2002 and finishing as runner-up twice in Class DD.
His record after the 2009 season was 339-102-1, put him in third place on the MHSAA’s all-time football coaching list, and putting him a few career wins ahead of his cousin, Leo ‘Smokey? Boyd, he only has 308 wins.
Boyd said many of his former athletes are coaching at various levels.
‘They gave me credit for guiding them a little bit,? he admitted.
With his guideness came lessons they could use on and off of the field.
‘Be good citizens, have integrity, always work to be successful, work hard, put forth the effort, if you want to succeed you have to work,? Boyd listed as some of the life lessons.
He admitted though he coached and helped them off the field – it was the kids with the talent.
‘They all had the talent it was just a matter of pushing them for them to succeed,? he said.
His former athletes still keep in contact, keeping him updated on their lives as well as see what Boyd is doing.
Orginally from Saginaw, Boyd came to the area when he visited his aunt and uncle during the summers.
His brother used to joke he should be a coach at OLL because it was just starting up and he spent his summers working in the area.
‘I just sort of laughed at him,? Boyd said.
Following his first wife’s death, he stayed in the area for a few days. By chance, the coach had just resigned, Boyd applied and got the position.
‘I think somebody upstairs put their hands on my shoulders and guided me,? he said.
Boyd is a member of the Detroit Catholic League, Michigan Football, Basketball and Softball halls of fame, as well as the Michigan Coaches Hall of Fame. His success netted numerous Coach of the Year honors throughout his career. He is a longtime member of the National Football Coaches Association and National Softball Coaches Association.
Boyd served terms on the board of directors for the Michigan Football Coaches Association and is a past vice president for the Michigan Softball Coaches Association. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and Clarkston Chamber of Commerce.
The award is named after Charles E. Forsythe, Director of MHSAA from 1931 to 1968. Rudy Godefroidt, superintendent of Hemlock Public Schools also received the award.