The 2024 campaign will be the third for Kevin Boyd as the Milwaukee women’s soccer coach.

He has continued the long run of dominance for the Panthers over his first two years, claiming the past two Horizon League regular-season and Tournament Championships while making back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Tournament. His two-year win-loss record stands at 24-7-8 (.718 winning percentage) while going an impressive 14-1-5 (.825) in regular-season Horizon League contests.

In 2023, he led the Panthers to a 12-3-5 ledger and an unbeaten 7-0-3 in conference action, leading the Horizon League in points (139), goals (47), assists (45), shots (315), and shots-per game (15.8), while finishing second with their 0.95 goals-against average. Those numbers finished among the best in the nation as well, seeing Milwaukee finish in the Top 25 in numerous categories in the NCAA: 17th in points-per game (6.95 ppg), 18th in total assists (45), 19th in scoring offense (2.35 gpg), 20th in assists per game (2.25 apg) and total points (139), 21st in total goals (47) and goal differential (+28), and 23rd in shots-on-goal per game (8.05).

His first season was an impressive one, despite taking over one of the youngest teams in the country that was returning just two starters and four upperclassmen to the lineup. After opening the campaign at 3-3-1, he led the squad to a 9-0-2 finish the rest of the way before nearly taking down sixth-ranked Michigan State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, losing 3-2 in double-overtime. The team claimed the Horizon League regular-season crown for the seventh time in the past eight seasons and earned a berth to the NCAA Tournament for the 16th time in program history.

Boyd brought over 20 years of head-coaching experience with him to Milwaukee, having spent two decades in the Pac-12 as head coach at both Arizona State University and at the University of California, Berkeley. No matter the stop, Boyd has been a proven winner, ranking as the all-time winningest coach during his final campaigns at both Pac-12 programs, while compiling over 200 victories in his career.

“We are truly excited to have someone with Kevin’s experience and proven track-record join the Panther family,” Director of Athletics Amanda Braun said at the time of his hiring. “The Milwaukee women’s soccer program is consistently a top team in the region and continues to make its name known nationally. We look forward to Coach Boyd leading our student-athletes and maintaining our tradition of success and excellence both on and off the field.” 

Boyd’s 238-155-56 overall record as a head coach at the NCAA Division I level includes 16 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, helping his players move on to the professional level in every pro women’s soccer league that has existed. Boyd came to the Panthers after spending two seasons as the associate head coach at Washington State, helping lead the Cougars to an overall record of 20-6-7 in that span.

“First and foremost, I am very excited to become the next head coach of the Milwaukee Panthers,” said Boyd at his hiring. “I look forward to coming in and continuing the tradition of excellence that has existed at Milwaukee for decades now and become the new coach to work to build upon that tradition and continue advancing deeper into the postseason.”

While at WSU he added a 14th overall NCAA Tournament appearance to his resume and a track record with drafted players that is hard to match across the nation. The Cougars have had seven players drafted professionally over his final three seasons, the second-most of any NCAA program in the country.

Boyd is the ninth coach in Milwaukee program history and takes over a program that, prior to his arrival, had made 15 NCAA Tournament appearances, won 21 regular-season league titles and 14 league tournament trophies, reaching the NCAA Tournament in each of the past four seasons (2018-21), as well as the second round in each of the past two (2020 and 2021).

Boyd spent 10 seasons as the Sun Devils head coach from 2007-16. During his time at ASU, Boyd guided his team to four NCAA tournaments, including a second-round appearance in 2014. Throughout his time, Boyd would compile a program-best 90 wins while his players would earn 23 all-conference awards.

Prior to Arizona State, Boyd guided the program as the head coach at Cal from 1997-2006. While at Cal, he compiled a school-record 124 wins while leading the team to eight NCAA Tournament appearances. He would lead the Bears to a Pac-10 championship in 1998 in his second season in Berkeley, while in 2005 he was named the conference Coach of the Year after guiding the Bears to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. One of his final recruiting classes included Alex Morgan, who went on to play for the United States National Team and was the first overall pick in the 2011 Women’s Professional Soccer Draft.

More recently, Boyd worked as the Academy Director and Technical Director for Legends FC (2017-2020). With the club, he was charged with running the organization’s US Soccer Development Academy Program, overseeing the Academy II program, while also coaching the Legends WPSL Semi-Professional Team.

Boyd is a graduate of Tri-State University (now Trine University) where he earned All-America honors for his play in the defensive backline. Among his many honors, Boyd earned induction into the Trojans’ Hall of Fame after finishing a professional career that took him to Hamar Kameratena, a Norwegian Elite team in the country’s First Division.

Boyd, and his wife, Kristi, have two children, Keegan and Kaiya.