Longtime cross country coach John Boyle passed away October 16^th, after a long battle with cancer. Boyle was the Stetson coach for 18 seasons from 1993-2010 retiring in July of 2010.

Boyle was a devoted runner throughout his life, obtaining several Florida Masters Championships, a National Masters 10k Championship and completed several Boston Marathons. John was once considered one of Florida's top runners in the 65-and-over group He was the president of Alta Vista Sports, a race management company and had also served as head cross country coach at DeLand High, earning Five Star Conference Coach-of-the-Year honors in 1986. One of John's legacies is the annual Thanksgiving Day 10 Miler and 5K in DeLand, which he started 39 years ago. This event now bears his name: The John Boyle Thanksgiving Day Races.

Boyle served on many different committees related to running during his lifetime. John served as the National Chairperson for Masters Long Distance Running for USA Track and Field (USATF) and also spent time on the organization's Board of Directors. Boyle was the Florida State Representative for the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA) and as National Duathlon Chair for USA Triathlon (USAT).
 
As the Hatters head coach, Boyle taught a generation of college runners to love running, to embrace challenges, and to be competitive in life.  During Boyle's tenure at Stetson both the men's and women's teams finished as high as 7^th in the ASUN championship.
 
An endowment has been established to honor John Boyle and his two longtime assistant coaches Joe Guthrie and Shelia Haire.  While donations to the fund have already established it as a permanent endowment, additional gifts to honor John Boyle, Joe Guthrie, and Shelia Haire, may be made online or by contacting Stetson athletics. If choosing to make a donation online, please select the cross country program men's or women's and then select tribute gift to input the John Boyle, Joe Guthrie, Shelia Haire Endowment.  All proceeds from the endowment will be used to enhance both cross-country teams at Stetson.

Boyle earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Southeastern Massachusetts University in 1964.  John is survived by his two children Lisa Boyle Grealish and Scott Boyle.  A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 pm, November 7, at First Presbyterian Church, fellowship hall, 724 N. Woodland Blvd., DeLand, Florida.