Loyd Roberts
American sports coach and administrator (1907–1989)
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Loyd Thomas "Preacher" Roberts (1907 – July 4, 1989) was an American college football and college basketball player and coach. He played football and basketball at Tulane University. Roberts served as the head football coach at Arkansas State Teachers College—now known as the University of Central Arkansas in 1941 and East Tennessee State College—now known as East Tennessee State University—from 1947 to 1951, compiling a career college football coaching record of 26–26–2. He was also the head basketball coach at Arkansas State Teachers in 1941–42, the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) in 1946–47, and East Tennessee State in 1947–48, tallying a career college basketball mark of 36–25.
Stigler, Oklahoma, U.S.
Johnson City, Tennessee, U.S.
Roberts, c. 1929 | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1907 Stigler, Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Died | July 4, 1989 (aged 82) Johnson City, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| Football | |
| 1929–1930 | Tulane |
| Basketball | |
| 1928–1931 | Tulane |
| Position | Center (football) |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Football | |
| c. 1931–1940 | Homer HS (LA) |
| 1941 | Arkansas State Teachers |
| 1944 | Iowa State (line) |
| 1946 | VMI (line) |
| 1947–1951 | East Tennessee State |
| Basketball | |
| c. 1931–1941 | Homer HS (LA) |
| 1941–1942 | Central Arkansas |
| 1946–1947 | VMI |
| 1947–1948 | East Tennessee State |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 1941–1942 | Arkansas State Teachers |
| 1947–1953 | East Tennessee State |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 26–26–2 (college football) 36–25 (college basketball) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
| |
Playing career
Roberts played both football and basketball for the Tulane Green Wave of Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. His brother, Floyd Roberts, was called "Little Preacher" and played as a halfback for Tulane next to Don Zimmerman.[1]
Football
Roberts was a prominent center for Tulane Green Wave football team, including the Southern Conference (SoCon) championship football teams of 1929 and 1930, quarterbacked by Red Dawson. Roberts wore number 45.
1929
Roberts anchored the line on the undefeated SoCon champion 1929 team.[2]
1930
Roberts was elected captain of the 1930 team.[3][4] He was selected All-Southern.[5]
Coaching career
Central Arkansas
Roberts spent a year coaching for the Central Arkansas Bears, compiling a record of 3–6.[6]
VMI
After serving in the United States Navy as a lieutenant during World War II, Roberts was hired as line coach at the Virginia Military Institute (VMI), working under head football coach Pooley Hubert.[7]
East Tennessee State
Roberts spent five seasons as the head football coach at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee from 1947 to 1951, compiling a record of 23–20–2. He also served as the basketball coach for one season in 1947–48 and was the athletic director from 1947 to 1953.[8]
Death
Thomas died on July 4, 1989, at Johnson City Medical Center in Johnson City, Tennessee.[9]
Head coaching record
College football
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas State Teachers Bears (Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference) (1941) | |||||||||
| 1941 | Arkansas State Teachers | 3–6 | |||||||
| Arkansas State Teachers: | 3–6 | ||||||||
| East Tennessee State Buccaneers (Independent) (1947–1948) | |||||||||
| 1947 | East Tennessee State | 5–4 | |||||||
| 1948 | East Tennessee State | 6–2–1 | |||||||
| East Tennessee State Buccaneers (Smoky Mountain Conference) (1949) | |||||||||
| 1949 | East Tennessee State | 5–4 | 3–1 | 2nd | |||||
| East Tennessee State Buccaneers (Smoky Mountain Conference / Volunteer State Athletic Conference) (1950–1951) | |||||||||
| 1950 | East Tennessee State | 3–5–1 | 1–2–1 / 0–1–1 | 4th / 4th | |||||
| 1951 | East Tennessee State | 4–5 | 1–1 | 2nd | |||||
| East Tennessee State: | 23–20–2 | 5–4–1 | |||||||
| Total: | 26–26–2 | ||||||||
