Dwight Boyd

Dwight Boyd
Born	(1966-09-19) September 19, 1966 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Former professional basketball player, sports administrator
Years active	1984–present
Known for	Memphis Tigers basketball player; chief of staff for Memphis Tigers men's basketball

Dwight Edward Boyd (born September 19, 1966) is a former American professional basketball athlete who currently serves as chief of staff for the Memphis Tigers. He competed collegiately for the Tigers from 1984 through 1988 and was drafted by the Denver Nuggets in the 1988 NBA draft. Boyd also played professionally with the Rapid City Thrillers in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA).

After dedicating more than two decades to marketing roles at PepsiCo, Boyd returned to the University of Memphis athletic department in 2012. He was appointed director of player personnel for the men’s basketball program in 2018 and elevated to chief of staff in 2021.

High school career

Boyd attended Kirby High School in Memphis, Tennessee, where he averaged 21.7 points per game during his senior year. He opted to continue his basketball journey with the Memphis Tigers, a team located just ten minutes from his hometown.

College basketball career

During his four-year tenure with the Tigers (1984–1988), Boyd contributed to the team’s appearance in the 1985 NCAA tournament Final Four. In his final collegiate season, he led Memphis by averaging 15.2 points per game and established a single-season free throw percentage record at 89.5%. Over his college career, Boyd amassed 1,249 points, placing him twelfth on Memphis’ all-time scoring list.

Professional basketball career

Early in his junior year, conversations with his father and Tigers head coach Larry Finch led Boyd to realize that professional teams might not heavily pursue him. After concluding his basketball activities in May 1988, he worked as a car salesman while finishing his degree in food administration at Memphis State University.

Although projected as a second-round selection in the 1988 NBA draft, Boyd was ultimately picked in the third round, 66th overall, by the Denver Nuggets. He emphasized that being drafted by any franchise was less significant than simply earning an opportunity to play professionally. Due to personal circumstances, Boyd did not attend Denver’s training camp in October 1988. The Rapid City Thrillers of the Continental Basketball Association invited him for the 1988–89 season; however, he prioritized completing his academic program and graduated in 1989.

On May 31, 1989, Boyd gave a verbal commitment to join the Thrillers for the 1989–90 campaign. He participated with the Nuggets during the Midwest Rookie Review but was not extended an invitation to their training camp. In August of that year, he competed with the San Antonio Spurs at the Summer Pro League, and subsequently attended Rapid City’s training camp in September. Boyd appeared in five games for Rapid City, averaging five points per contest. On December 6, he was moved to the Thrillers’ reserved list. His playing rights were traded on January 13, 1990, to the Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets, though it was anticipated he would not report to that team.

Post-playing career

Boyd devoted 22 years to marketing positions within PepsiCo. In 2012, he rejoined the University of Memphis as director of the M Club, which represents letterwinners within the athletic department. Later, he served as assistant athletic director for community relations through involvement with the Tiger Scholarship Fund. In 2015, Boyd earned a Master of Arts degree in liberal studies from the University of Memphis.

In 2018, head coach Penny Hardaway named Boyd director of player personnel for Memphis men’s basketball, where his responsibilities included overseeing players’ academic development and guiding them toward success beyond their athletic careers. He advanced to chief of staff three years later, in 2021.

Personal life

On August 29, 1987, Boyd united in marriage with Lenora Jett. Their daughter, Lakira, was a member of the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders team. Boyd practices Christianity.

External links

• College statistics