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.
 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(s) | 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
editRoberts 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
editRoberts 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
editRoberts anchored the line on the undefeated SoCon champion 1929 team.[2]
1930
editRoberts was elected captain of the 1930 team.[3][4] He was selected All-Southern.[5]
Coaching career
editCentral Arkansas
editRoberts spent a year coaching for the Central Arkansas Bears, compiling a record of 3–6.[6]
VMI
editAfter 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
editRoberts 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
editThomas died on July 4, 1989, at Johnson City Medical Center in Johnson City, Tennessee.[9]
Head coaching record
editCollege football
edit| 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 | ||||||||
References
edit- ^ "Roberts Newest Threat In Green Wave's Attack". Lincoln Evening Journal. November 15, 1932. p. 13. Retrieved March 17, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Year by Year Summaries" (PDF). p. 135.
- ^ "22 Captains To Lead Grid Teams". The Index-Journal. September 12, 1930. p. 9. Retrieved March 17, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Bring On The Wildcats". Chicago Tribune. September 28, 1930. p. 4.
- ^ "All-Southern". San Antonio Express. December 4, 1930.
- ^ http://ucasports.com/custompages/FBRecords/FBCoaching.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ "Lloyd Roberts Reports To VMI". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. March 15, 1946. p. 14. Retrieved June 8, 2019 – via Newspapers.com .
- ^ Roberts, L. Thomas (2007). East Tennessee State University Football. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738544243. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
- ^ "Loyd T. Roberts rites Thursday". Clarksdale Press Register. Clarksdale, Mississippi. July 5, 1989. p. 2. Retrieved June 8, 2019 – via Newspapers.com .
