Loyd learned the game of basketball at father's side

Photograph by Russ Wilson Blackhawk basketball head coach Trent Loyd is passionate about winning. With 20 games won so far this year, he excited about the hard work the team has put in together.
Photograph by Russ Wilson Blackhawk basketball head coach Trent Loyd is passionate about winning. With 20 games won so far this year, he excited about the hard work the team has put in together.

On the basketball court from his earliest days, Blackhawk basketball coach Trent Loyd knows -- and loves -- the game. He is passionate about the game and about winning and about making a difference in the lives of young men.

Loyd, 26, has been the head basketball coach for the varsity Blackhawks the past three years. So far this year, they have a winning season.

His first two years in Pea Ridge, he coached at the junior high. The varsity 'Hawks have improved steadily with a 14/14 season in 2014, a 20/10 season in 2015, and 20/4 (as of Monday) so far this year.

The juniors on this year's varsity team were his seventh-graders his first year here. Together, they've grown, matured and improved.

Loyd learned about basketball from his earliest days.

The son of Randy Loyd, head basketball coach at Van Buren, Ark., the Blackhawk coach is following in his father's footsteps. The elder Loyd recently recorded his 700th win.

"I grew up around it, since the day I was born," the youner Loyd said. "I remember hopping on the bus with him going to away games. Mom's a teacher. So, with them both being in education, we were used to Monday through Friday schedules. Summer time is family time."

Loyd, 26, is a graduate of Van Buren High School, where he played basketball, and the University of Arkansas, where he earned a bachelor's of science degree in education and kinesiology. He is engaged to Shelby Young and has a summer wedding planned.

Loyd teaches oral com and physical education at Pea Ridge High School.

"I played all the sports growing up -- soccer, football, baseball, basketball," Loyd recalls, saying that by senior high, he focused on basketball and baseball. He signed to play baseball for the University of Arkansas, Fort Smith, but injured his knee and transferred to the UofA, Fayetteville.

Loyd said his father made a very positive impression on him.

"I think ... growing up around the game and watching everything my dad did, having the opportunity to learn from someone who I think is one of the better coaches in the state," he said. "I learned a lot from coach (Charley) Clark (former Blackhawk head basketball coach). I learned from being under both of them. It was good learning from two guys who did things the right way."

Loyd said his father would check him out of school for away games and take him with him. "I'd follow him around the gym the whole time. Looking back, you appreciate things like that ... how he kept me involved."

He admits that occasionally his dad had to correct him to stop dribbling the ball during the team practice.

"He was my coach in high school," he said. "He did a good job of leaving it in the gym. If we did a good job, we'd celebrate. If bad, it was left at the gym. If I upset him, he always left it at the gym."

"He was a wise man," Loyd said.

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Editor's note: This is the first in a three-part series on coach Trent Loyd and Heath Neal, Blackhawk basketball coaches.

Sports on 02/10/2016