Boyd Lyon was an amazing human being, both on and off the soccer field. In 1998, as the newly appointed Director of Coaching for the Rancho Santa Fe Youth Soccer Club, the first person I hired was none other than Boyd Lyon. The reasons were simple: I needed someone that was honest, reliable and committed and could teach and coach 7- and 8-year-olds, a job often likened to herding cats.

For seven years Boyd Lyon coached the Under 8- and Under 9-year-old boys teams for RSF Attack, ensuring that the competitive “Attack” program has a lifetime of talented, well-trained youngsters coming through the rank. He was meticulous in his planning, recruiting and developing of Rancho Santa Fe’s young soccer players. Both players and parents alike adored his approach, attitude, work ethic and passion for the sport and their children.

In January of this year Boyd left California to pursue his dream of researching sea turtles at the University of Central Florida. Boyd loved his life in Florida, combining his two passions–marine research and coaching soccer. Tragically, on August 10, while diving after a 300lb. sea turtle off the coast of Florida for research, Boyd drowned. It is difficult to comprehend the number of people whose lives have been touched by Boyd. His talents as the lead guitarist for the Lisa Diaz Band and working with Sports Illustrated photographing Laker games were not known by many, for Boyd was humble. He was an avid wildlife photographer and played Div. I collegiate soccer at San Diego State University. He was fiercely competitive and did not suffer fools. You knew exactly where you stood with “Boydy.” I remember a pick-up game with coaches that started out as “first to score three goals,” then five, then seven. Boyd’s team finally won by scoring the 13th goal. We weren’t going home ‘til Boyd’s team won!

Boyd possessed a wonderful sense of humor and dutifully informed each new group of 7-year-old Attack players that I was really Big Bird from Sesame Street. To this day I am questioned by now teenagers, as to whether I still play Big Bird.
I will remember Boyd as the consummate perfectionist, but I will miss Boyd, my friend.
The RSF Youth Soccer Club s looking to set up a memorial scholarship fund in Boyd’s name, and his fellow coaches wish to plant a tree at the RSF Sports Field in memoriam. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. Boyd will be remembered as a man who lived life to the fullest and died doing what he loved.

Your friend,
Big Bird
aka Malcolm Tovey
Director of Coaching