Taft Coach Is in Critical Condition

Neil Boggess, an assistant girls’ track and field coach at Taft High, was listed in critical condition Thursday at Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center with “bleeding in the brain,” hospital spokesman Ron Yukelson said.

Boggess, 48, was in a coma and on life support, said Tom Stevenson, a former track and football coach at Taft. Boggess was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday.

Boggess, who coaches the sprinters and hurdlers at Taft, was instrumental in helping the girls’ team develop into a City Section power.

Taft placed third in the City championships in Boggess’ first season in 1995 before finishing second in 1996 and ‘97, and first from 1998-2000.