Boyce Moves On To College Arena -- Decatur Basketball Coach Joins Boise State

Ed Boyce is taking his championship dreams to another level.

After sculpting the Decatur High School boys basketball program into one of the most successful in the state, Boyce is leaving to become a full-time assistant at Boise State University.

"I've always had a dream of (college coaching)," he said.

The dream became reality unexpectedly, in a year when Boyce hoped talented Quincy Wilder could take the Gators to a state championship.

Bobby Dye retired as BSU's head men's basketball coach just two weeks ago, ending a 12-year reign. Rod Jensen, Dye's longtime assistant, was named his successor and quickly called Boyce over for an interview.

The two had become acquainted over the past couple of years through coaching clinics and the BCI summer program Boyce was involved with.

"There was a distant mutual respect there," said Boyce, one of four finalists for the job and the only one without college coaching experience.

Boyce accepted the job on Saturday.

Jensen said he was looking for someone who shares his philosophies.

"I think we're a lot alike," he said of Boyce. "What I really like is the relationship he has with his players. His players really respect him. They're loyal to him and he's loyal to them. He gets teams to play hard and play well together. Those things are very, very important.

"We think we got a good one."

Wilder knows the Gators lost a good one.

"There aren't too many coaches like him in high school, if any," said Wilder, rated by some as one of the country's top five prep point guards. "I was mad for a couple of hours, but like he told us, `You guys are on autopilot now. We got you there, now you're on autopilot. You're going to be fine.'

"It's hard, but you have to stay with it and keep playing hard."

Boyce leaves knowing his program is on solid ground. After a 9-9 opening season, his teams made four consecutive trips to the Class AAA tournament, although they failed to place.

"I remember the first time I met with the players back in 1990," said Boyce, 34, who joined Decatur after one season at White River. "I told them, `One day Decatur basketball will be the yardstick against which all others are measured in the state.' I don't know if that's accurate, but I know it is one of the top programs."

One of his biggest regrets is failing to win a state title.

"There are two huge voids I feel," he said of his departure. "One is accomplishing a state championship, obviously. The second one is leaving behind such quality people."

Boyce said the biggest challenge will be recruiting.

"I think I can learn to be a good recruiter, but it's a whole different deal at the Division I level," he said.

Eventually, Boyce hopes to be a head coach in a Division I program.

"My personality, I believe, is one of a head coach," he said. "I think I make a better head coach than I do an assistant, and I told Rod that. This will be good preparation for something down the road. But the goal right now is to help take Boise State to the NCAA tournament level year in and year out, just like we've done with Decatur at the high-school level."

Kent Rodseth, Decatur athletic director, expects more success from Boyce.

"I think he's going to do very well, with his work ethic and intensity and excitement and love of the game," Rodseth said. "I think it's a perfect fit."

The search for a new head coach begins immediately.

"We're going to get a lot of inquiries," Rodseth said. "I think it's a pretty good job. We've got one of the best players in the state (in Wilder). That's pretty enticing. Plus, he's got some pretty good kids around him."