Former all-American Diamond Boyd, recognized in 2021 on the Midwest Conference's Top 100 list of most outstanding student-athletes, returned to her alma mater as full-time assistant volleyball coach in June 2020.
Boyd rejoined Coach Jeff Meeker’s program that has claimed eight consecutive Midwest Conference regular-season championships. She was an elite outside hitter during the title run from 2014-17.
“Cornell is one of my happy places and has been for a long time,” said Boyd, a 2018 Cornell graduate and three-sport (volleyball, basketball, track & field) all-conference performer for the Rams. “I am excited to be with the people I love and grew up with in a sense. Now I’m able to give back. It’s really cool to go back to a place that helped shape me into the woman I am today.”
Boyd was head freshman and assistant varsity volleyball coach at Mount Vernon High School for two years. The Mustangs captured the Class 3A state championship in 2019, and placed third in 2018.
Boyd was a four-time all-conference volleyball standout for the Rams, earning MWC Player of the Year honors in 2016. The Elk Grove Village, Ill., native received first team all-region and second team all-America accolades in 2016, posting a school-record 4.30 kills per set.
“It is hard to put into words how excited and fortunate we are to have Diamond returning to our program,” Meeker said. “Her history at Cornell and in our program is important. Even more important is the passion for mentoring, work ethic and coaching experience she brings back to Cornell Volleyball.”
Boyd ranks second in Cornell history with 1,395 career kills and stands third in kills per set (3.40). She guided the Rams to three NCAA Tournament berths and 88 wins over four years. The 2014 squad finished 26-7 and advanced to the regional final.
During a distinguished basketball career with the Rams, Boyd was a three-time first team all-conference pick and tabbed MWC Player of the Year as a junior and senior. She led the Rams to a pair of MWC titles and a berth in the NCAA Tournament in 2018.
Boyd was named Cornell’s Ellen Whale Senior Female Athlete of the Year in 2017, and voted Junior Female Athlete of the Year in 2016. She earned degrees from Cornell in psychology (June 2017) and kinesiology (May 2018).
Boyd is head varsity girls basketball coach at Lisbon High School, a position she’s held since the 2018-19 season. She has coached club volleyball (18U and 13U) the past two years at Lisbon.
