Brad Lloyd leaves alma mater for rival
By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on August 24, 2011 1:47 PM
WARSAW -- Leaving his alma mater for a county archrival was an easy decision says North Duplin alum Brad Lloyd.
There's no doubt he feels right at home at James Kenan.
Lloyd joined the Tigers' athletics staff during the summer and has experienced a reunion of sorts. Lloyd is roaming the sidelines with fellow North Duplin alums Ken and John Avent, who have undoubtedly raised the Kenan football program to another level.
"It wasn't hard to leave, but it was hard to tell people," said Lloyd, who resides in Kenansville. "The only ones I talked to were Coach (Hugh) Martin and Coach (Ricky) Edwards. Everyone else just heard through the grapevine. I didn't get a chance to talk to the team because my transfer didn't come through until the summer.
"I love it. It's definitely different, but it's a good different. Athletically, it's been awesome. I don't know about the teaching side, yet."
Lloyd will assist with football and JV basketball at Kenan.
A Mount Olive alum, Lloyd guided the Rebels' baseball program to 18 wins and a share of the Carolina 1-A Conference regular-season crown last spring. Assistant coach James Hobbs will take over the team, which is expected to return seven starters and 16 lettermen overall.
"He did a mighty good job," said Edwards. "It's a big blow losing him."
Lloyd's departure is the second coaching change the Rebels' athletic staff experienced this season. Former head volleyball coach Heather Best gave birth to twins in the offseason, and Kelly Brown has taken her place on the bench.
Brown coached at North Duplin Junior High last season.