Durant coach remembered for making a 'great impact'

Jonathan Boyd
Alcorn State vs. Ohio State
 November 10, 2009

DURANT, Mississippi -- Jonathan Boyd embodied the expectations he set forth when he took over at Durant in 2013.

Before being named the boys basketball coach at his alma mater, Boyd led the Tigers to their fifth Class 1A championship in 2005. Durant, now with six state championship victories (the latest coming in 2011), is the fourth winningest boys basketball program in Mississippi history.

Boyd had high expectations for the players he coached over the last two seasons, and delivered a message that manifested itself in the Tigers' turnaround this year.

"Success is uncommon and not to be enjoyed by the common man. I am looking for uncommon people because we want to be successful, not average on and off the court," Boyd said upon being hired.

On March 7, three days after the Tigers fell to Ashland in the boys 1A quarterfinals at Jackson State University, Boyd was diagnosed with Leukemia. After battling the disease for more than three weeks, Boyd died at the University of Mississippi Medical Center on March 30. He was 26

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