YOU ARE HERE: Central Kentucky Home→Collections→Retirement

Kidd stays active in retirement

July 06, 2007|Keith Taylor/Sun Sports Editor

It's been five years since Roy Kidd retired from the coaching ranks.

Just because he is no longer active in the coaching circles doesn't mean the legendary retired football coach at Eastern Kentucky University is taking it easy.

In fact, he is as busy as ever playing golf, traveling and catching up on things he missed out on while he coached at Eastern from 1964-2002. He remains close to the university where he won 315 games and had a stadium named in his honor long before he coached his last football game at the school.

He has an office on campus and serves as an outreach ombudsman.

Kidd, 75, has replaced coaching with golf and he has plenty of time to grab the clubs, jump in the cart and play a few rounds since he lives in a condo at Battlefield Golf Course between Richmond and Berea. Kidd's residence is located near the No. 9 tee box, giving him a solid view of the fairways and greens located on the course.

"I play a lot of golf," he said. "I enjoy that. We love living at Battlefield and it's a great place, we have great friends out there. We just have a great time of playing golf and enjoying retirement."

Kidd was one of several participants in the annual Colonel Club Golf Classic held at Arlington Golf Course on Thursday in Richmond. Kidd was part of a team that featured his son Keith and former Eastern quarterback Greg Couch, brother of former University of Kentucky standout Tim Couch.

Following the long outing that featured more than 150 golfers, Kidd didn't have to worry about preparing for fall practice, which begins next month.

"I really like retirement," Kidd said. "The first year (away) I missed football, I missed being around the guys and I missed being around the coaches. After the first year, I just kind of got away from it (coaching) more and more."

It was Kidd's passion for golf that helped ease the transition.

Kidd said he plays an average of "three, maybe four times" per week.

"Some weeks I may play once and might have something else to do," he said.

While not on the course, Kidd spends his time at home and on the road, touring the region in a much different capacity. While coaching, Kidd would "fly in and fly out" of certain destinations, but rarely got past the hotel suite and the football field.

Kidd and his wife, Sue, visited Washington D.C. recently and has a trip planned for Branson, Mo., this fall.

Kidd also keeps football in the mix and will attend the University of Texas -Texas Tech encounter on Nov. 10 at Royal-Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas.

Kidd remains active, even in retirement.

|

|

|