Boggess Dies After Stroke

Neil Boggess, an assistant girls’ track and field coach at Taft High since 1995, died Friday at Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center because of complications from a stroke, hospital spokesman Ron Yukelson said.

Boggess, 48, had been in a coma and on life-support systems since Wednesday morning, according to Kenny Mitchell, an assistant boys’ coach at Taft.

“It’s a shock,” Mitchell said. “We were out there at [Cal State] Northridge on Tuesday afternoon just kicking it and then I get a call from his son saying [Neil is] in the hospital.”

Boggess is survived by a daughter Nikia, 25, sons Devin, 17, and Brent, 11, and stepson Armone Lochard, 22.

His wife, Renee, was killed in a car accident last year.

Boggess, who had been undergoing dialysis while awaiting a kidney transplant, helped Taft win three consecutive City Section girls’ titles from 1998-2000 after the Toreadors finished third in 1995 and second in 1996 and 1997.

Funeral arrangements are pending.