Fri, Jul 18 2008
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Published May 11, 2008 12:15 am - Former Joplin High School football coach Mike Loyd has made an interesting move in basically starting over at the prep level. Loyd has taken the reins at Ponte Vedra (Fla.) High School after eight years at Ardmore (Okla.). Loyd will launch the varsity program next fall with mostly freshmen and sophomores and about 10 juniors. Former JHS coach takes Florida post By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com Former Joplin High School football coach Mike Loyd has made an interesting move in basically starting over at the prep level. Loyd has taken the reins at Ponte Vedra (Fla.) High School after eight years at Ardmore (Okla.). Loyd will launch the varsity program next fall with mostly freshmen and sophomores and about 10 juniors. The glittering record Loyd built at Tulsa Memorial, McAlester and Ardmore — not to mention 44-7 and a national title in four years at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College — could take a hit. Class 5A Ardmore, 67-27 overall, didn’t miss the playoffs and won three district titles in Loyd’s eight seasons. But the positives in the switch dominated the negatives from Loyd’s perspective. “It was too good an opportunity to pass up for my family,” Loyd said. “No. 1, it’s a great place to live — it’s an affluent, fast-growing area — and raise a family. The quality of life and education are so great. “Bill Bates (former Dallas Cowboy) probably sold me on taking the job,” Loyd said. “It has potential. Sure, it could take a while. But I believe it won’t take long to become competitive. “There are so many reasons,” Loyd said in explaining the move. “Florida high schools play some of the best football in the country. We recruited the entire country at NEO with some of our impact players coming from this area. “It’s the opportunity to start a program from scratch in a community with such a strong youth program base,” Loyd said. “It’s the excitement of being in a new school that is one of the most impressive construction sites I’ve witnessed.” Loyd, who turned 52 on May 6, said his current plans include serving as the offensive coordinator for the Sharks. Three former NFL players will be on the staff, Loyd said. He isn’t sure in what classification the Sharks will be assigned. Loyd, a Joplin Memorial High School graduate, attended the University of Kansas and the University of Tulsa before six years as a professional quarterback (St. Louis Cardinals of the NFL, Edmonton and Saskatchewan of the Canadian Football League, Oklahoma Outlaws of the USFL). Loyd came to Joplin High School after NEO and the 1997 edition, 5-5 overall, tied for the Ozark Conference championship at 4-1. He also was 5-5 in 1996 with the Eagles. 
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