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Boynton returns to where it began
Former USC standout brings local flavor, familiarity to Horn’s staff
CommentsEight years after first stepping on campus, Mike Boynton is still hanging around USC. In his case, however, this is a very good thing.
And to be fair, he left four years ago, though he did pop in occasionally. Boynton started a coaching career and figured a return to his alma mater would happen down the road.
But late last week, a few days after he was hired as the Gamecocks’ third assistant men’s basketball coach, Boynton could be found in his new office — and he didn’t need directions.
“A little surreal,” he said.
These are new times around the South Carolina program, with a new coach (Darrin Horn) and three staff members he brought with him from Western Kentucky. Boynton, 26, fits in with the youth of the staff — no one i older than 36 — but he is an old face to the fans and players.
Boynton was the starting point guard on the last Gamecock team to make the NCAA tournament. And he has a vast knowledge of recent program history, having played for the two coaches who preceded Horn — both of whom, incidentally, lavished praise on Boynton and the decision to hire him.
Eddie Fogler recruited Boynton out of Brooklyn, N.Y., and coached him for one season. The two have remained close; Boynton refers to him as a mentor.
“From the first day I met Michael Boynton, he understood the process, he understood where he wanted to go, he understood the commitment to get there,” Fogler said. “Way, way, way beyond his years in terms of age and maturity. He was a joy to be around and to coach. He’s just a guy who gets it.”
Dave Odom coached Boynton for three years and helped him get his first job in coaching.
“He has a certain charm that just encourages you to love him and to believe him and to care for him,” Odom said.
Boynton also is described as extremely smart, which might have attracted him to Horn, the former academic All-American. Boynton graduated in 3½ years from USC and interned at a law firm for eight months before deciding to enter coaching.
His first job was as a graduate assistant at Furman after Odom put in a call to then-coach Larry Davis.
“I went from being the starting point guard for an NCAA tournament team to washing the laundry of Furman’s walk-on,” Boynton said.
A year later, Fogler put in a call to Coastal Carolina coach Buzz Peterson, a fellow North Carolina alumnus. Fogler told Peterson “just interview (Boynton). You don’t have to hire him, just interview him.” Peterson talked to Boynton and hired him.
Two years later when Peterson left to work in the NBA, Boynton joined the staff at Wofford. He was ready to stay patient and work his way up the ladder, but Horn needed a final assistant, giving Boynton’s career its biggest boost yet.
Boynton brings instant familiarity with the Gamecocks program. Because of his proximity, he came back regularly during the past four years and grew to know several of the current players.
“My experience here, I don’t think you can overstate it,” Boynton said. “Because I can bring Devan Downey in here and tell him, ‘Listen, I know exactly what you’re going through. I know exactly what you’re going through as a student, I know exactly what you’re going through socially, I know exactly what you’re going through as a player.’ ”
But his former coaches believe more then familiarity will boost Boynton in his new gig.
“He knows the game of basketball, more importantly,” Odom said.
“It’s a great opportunity for him, and I think Darrin made a wonderful hire,” Fogler said. “And Michael Boynton will be a very successful head coach one day. He’s not just a guy who’s going to go out and recruit. He can coach. He understands the game as well.”
Reach Emerson at (803) 771-8676.
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