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Boyce Deitz entered the NCHSAA Hall of Fame in 2023 for his coaching career at Swain County High School. He’s pictured on his farm last year.
Larry Griffin
lgriffin@thesmokymountaintimes.com
Swain County’s athletic community suffered a loss on Dec. 30 as beloved former athletic director and football coach Boyce Deitz passed away. There will be a memorial service for him today, Thursday. Jan. 4, at the Swain County Memorial Stadium, beginning at 1 p.m.
The county announced his passing last week on Facebook, writing that Deitz, who served as athletic director and football coach from 1977 to 1996, was “a larger than life legend who shaped the life of countless young people.”
“We are infinitely better for having him in our lives,” the post reads.
The comments on Facebook poured in, with neighboring counties offering condolences and many individuals, including several who didn’t even have Deitz as a coach themselves, praising him for his coaching skills as well as for generally being an upstanding and kind person.
Deitz had a good year in 2023, with the NCHSAA honoring him in its Hall of Fame for his decades of work with local athletics.