After almost four decades, James Boyd is set to hang up his running shoes and concentrate on his day job.
NBC26.com reports the longtime De Pere track and field program staple, the last 11 as head coach, Boyd is stepping aside to focus on his role as De Pere City Mayor.
"Last year was a shortened season so I didn't get that real flavor, so I thought I would try it one more year, and that might have been one year too long," said Boyd, who was first elected Mayor in 2020. "I love the kids, I love the coaches. But the challenge of trying to balance the city, the coaching, and then I was also teaching as well. It got to be a little bit too much."
Up until now, Boyd has turned heads with his ability to wear so many hats, especially in such meaningful roles.
"I don't know how he does it," senior sprinter Jack May added. "It's just really cool that he can be a track coach and mayor at the same time."
Senior hurdler Will Waterstradt admits he still struggles with rationalizing who he sees Boyd as.
"It definitely is a bit weird to me to think that my head coach is the mayor of the city and I'm just talking with this guy and he's actually the mayor of De Pere," he said.
With this year’s state track and field meet being his last after more than 30-years of attending them, Boyd has a simple message for his team.
"Just embrace the moment," he said. "Just do the best you can. Results will fall the way they should fall. Obviously, we'd love to see them on the podium, but that will come."
Waterstradt said the message is a familiar one.
"He doesn't really care if you take first,” he said. “He doesn't care if you take last. He just wants you to put all your effort in there and try as hard as you can."
Boyd vows to take that same energy with him to City Hall.
"I really do enjoy this," he said of his role as mayor. "Just the little bit I can do to help make a difference in the city I think is well worthwhile."
With the WIAA state meet beginning on Friday, De Pere is sending 12 athletes to the meet in La Crosse.
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