Loyd Roberts

{{Short description|American sports coach and administrator (1907–1989)}}

{{Infobox college coach

| name = Loyd Roberts

| image = lloydroberts.png

| alt =

| caption = Roberts, {{Circa|1929}}

| birth_date = 1907

| birth_place = Stigler, Oklahoma, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date|1989|7|4}} (aged 82)

| death_place = Johnson City, Tennessee, U.S.

| alma_mater =

| player_sport1 = Football

| player_years2 = 1929–1930

| player_team2 = Tulane

| player_sport3 = Basketball

| player_years4 = 1928–1931

| player_team4 = Tulane

| player_positions = Center (football)

| coach_sport1 = Football

| coach_years2 = {{Circa|1931–1940}}

| coach_team2 = Homer HS (LA)

| coach_years3 = 1941

| coach_team3 = Arkansas State Teachers

| coach_years4 = 1944

| coach_team4 = Iowa State (line)

| coach_years5 = 1946

| coach_team5 = VMI (line)

| coach_years6 = 1947–1951

| coach_team6 = East Tennessee State

| coach_sport7 = Basketball

| coach_years8 = c. 1931–1941

| coach_team8 = Homer HS (LA)

| coach_years9 = 1941–1942

| coach_team9 = Central Arkansas

| coach_years10 = 1946–1947

| coach_team10 = VMI

| coach_years11 = 1947–1948

| coach_team11 = East Tennessee State

| admin_years1 = 1941–1942

| admin_team1 = Arkansas State Teachers

| admin_years2 = 1947–1953

| admin_team2 = East Tennessee State

| overall_record = 26–26–2 (college football)
36–25 (college basketball)

| bowl_record =

| tournament_record =

| championships =

| awards =

Third-team All-American (1930)
2× All-Southern (1929, 1930)

| coaching_records =

}}

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.

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.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2008663/lincoln_evening_journal/|work=Lincoln Evening Journal|title=Roberts Newest Threat In Green Wave's Attack|date=November 15, 1932|page=13|accessdate=March 17, 2015|via=Newspapers.com}} {{Open access}}

=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.{{cite web|url=http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/tul/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2014-15/misc_non_event/2014FBHistory.pdf|page=135|title=Year by Year Summaries|access-date=March 17, 2015|archive-date=April 2, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402131744/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/tul/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/2014-15/misc_non_event/2014FBHistory.pdf|url-status=dead}}

==1930==

Roberts was elected captain of the 1930 team.{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2008746//|work=The Index-Journal|date=September 12, 1930|page=9|accessdate=March 17, 2015|via=Newspapers.com|title=22 Captains To Lead Grid Teams}} {{Open access}}{{cite news|url=http://archives.chicagotribune.com/1930/09/28/page/31/article/pick-winners-in-tribune-kicking-passing-contest|work=Chicago Tribune|date=September 28, 1930|title=Bring On The Wildcats|page=4}} {{Open access}} He was selected All-Southern.{{cite news|newspaper=San Antonio Express|title=All-Southern|date=December 4, 1930}}

Coaching career

=Central Arkansas=

Roberts spent a year coaching for the Central Arkansas Bears, compiling a record of 3–6.{{Cite web| title=Central Arkansas football coaching records | url=http://ucasports.com/custompages/FBRecords/FBCoaching.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202173715/http://ucasports.com/custompages/FBRecords/FBCoaching.pdf | archive-date=2010-12-02}}

=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.{{cite news |author= |title=Lloyd Roberts Reports To VMI |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/32548572/daily_press/ |newspaper=Daily Press |location=Newport News, Virginia |date=March 15, 1946 |page=14 |access-date=June 8, 2019 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}

=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.{{cite book |last=Roberts |first=L. Thomas |date=2007 |title=East Tennessee State University Football |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-fEyqrZAYS0C |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=9780738544243 |access-date=January 11, 2018}}

Death

Thomas died on July 4, 1989, at Johnson City Medical Center in Johnson City, Tennessee.{{cite news |author= |title=Loyd T. Roberts rites Thursday |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/32526084/the_clarksdale_press_register/ |newspaper=Clarksdale Press Register |location=Clarksdale, Mississippi |date=July 5, 1989 |page=2 |access-date=June 8, 2019 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}