Tuesday, January 27, 2015

At last minute, Mike Loyd rejects Joplin High School coaching offer

A new football coach may be hired at Joplin High School, but it is not going to be former JHS Coach and 1974 Memorial graduate Mike Loyd.

R-8 Administration had anticipated naming Loyd, who reportedly was torn between returning to his home town and staying at Grove where he became coach in the fall of 2014, but Loyd turned down the offer only a few minutes before the Joplin R-8 Board of Education began its closed session meeting with auditors.

Loyd's hiring was supposed to take place during the closed session with an announcement being made in the open session under an item listed as "employment."

28 comments:

Anonymous said...

I see that CJ is considering suing Wallace Bajalli for the TIF funds that David Wallace said would be coming his way. He could have got on an IPAD at the high school and googled David Wallace and known it would not happen. No Superintendent ever supports a TIF period. The board should never have voted to renew his contract before seeing audit results.

Anonymous said...

$3,000 coaching stipend to coach a program with a recent history of mediocre performance at best?

A program that on any given Friday night, a person could grab 22 kids out of the stands and beat the varsity starters?

A program that belongs to a school that the kids could careless about football or even if it has team?

Thanks, but no thanks.

Anonymous said...

Get Dewey. Let him recruit Kansas like the good old days.

Anonymous said...

Mike was a great player and a hometown star: East Junior High and Memorial. And as an NFL quarterback for the Cardinals. And he is a great guy as I was a classmate. Really a loss not to get him. Good luck finding anyone with those credentials.

Anonymous said...

You are correct! A 3-7 record, with 1 win over a home school team is really great credentials. What a sad day for Joplin :(

Anonymous said...

4:39
You forgot a school full of drugs with coaches and administrators that don't care, and don't drug screen like they are suppose to, and let them play anyway. Yes, this is a fact.

Dusty Roads said...

They only drug test the kids that they are pretty sure will pass.

Unknown said...

No that is not a fact

Anonymous said...

The coaches do care! There is not a single coach that coaches because they "don't care". That is a very uneducated statement, from someone who most likely has no idea how much time the coaches put in and how much they care about the boys they coach. It is the administration and Mr. Starkweather that do not care and have shown that time and time again.
There is a reason that 4 coaches have turned down the job and countless and trust me it is not the fear of a drug ridden school. The last set of coaches held the boys to a higher standard than what the school set. They lost many players due to them not wanting to uphold those standards (including zero tolerance with drug use). Which is why this set ruffled the weathers of Mr.Starweather and Mr.Hiatt. When the administration has to hear about parents being upset that the coaches have benched their poor child that only smoked pot, it only failed 2 classes, ect.... they are upset with the coaches not the parents or children that has broken the rules. It is just too hard for the administration to have a back bone.
There is reason the last 4 coaches that have "resigned" from Joplin go on and have better records and better programs. It is the administration especially Mr Starkweather that scares coaches and players away. When you let youth coaches and boosters dictate how your team should be ran, it will be ran into the ground. We are all seeing that.
Mr. Turner, I am sure you are already aware of the cluster that they have created, but there is a pretty sensational story to be told about Mr.Starweather and Mr. Hiatt.

Anonymous said...

It is just very sad that our schools and kids have been neglected like this. They deserve top notch from Admin. on down and they do not get that. I fear for them. Money spent everywhere and debt for them to pay but few skills to handle the mess our schools and town have become.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous Keyboard Warrior from 4:39,
my name is Colby Cornett. I am the quarterback of the Joplin Eagles, and you have no right to say anything about my football team. I assure you that I did not see anyone at any of our practices, weight training sessions, or summer camps with the senseless, ridiculous attitude that you have demonstrated, so I'm going to assume that you were not there. You clearly have no idea what kind of work my brothers have put in over the summer, and what we have overcome in the past year. Our football program is not something to be taken lightly. We are a very special group of kids, to go out and do what we do everyday. Not only are we hard working on the field, but in the classroom, and outside of school. Don't you ever talk about my brothers negatively. You don't know us, and you obviously don't know what we're capable of. So please, continue to hide behind your anonymous screen, and tell us who we are. On another note, our school could not be more proud of our football team. The student section this year, was the best student section in the conference, and I'd put them up against anyone in the state. If you do not attend our school, do not try to speak for us. We can speak for ourselves, and we don't have room on our bus for your attitude. Also, our coaches were the best coaches that I have ever had the privilege to play under. There is not one man on staff that wouldn't do anything to help us be better players.

Anonymous said...

The Joplin Eagles Football coaches are great! The AD needs to make the right choice and hire from within. The kids love and respect him, Jeff. He is more than qualified, he is well admired among his peers and the community, he is the right choice to be the next Joplin Eagles Head Football Coach!

Anonymous said...




"I fear we have awakened a sleeping giant and filled him with a terrible resolve."

Some of you should probably do some fact finding and research just a little before opening your mouths and looking like the village idiots!

Kudos to you Colby Cornett!
Joplin Eagles STATE BOUND
WE BELIEVE!!
Pasio Bellator!

Anonymous said...

First, I applaud young Mr. Cornett for taking a leadership role and defending your team. I don't think anyone questions the programs work ethic, determination or effort it takes to play high school football.
What the program at JHS does is no different than any other program found in Southwest Missouri or around this region for that matter. Every program participates in offseason weights, running, camps, 7v7 passing leagues, video study sessions and all resources available to improve as a program and as individuals. The results speak for themselves at the regional schools (who I don't need to name) and the repeated, year-after-year success they enjoy.
Unfortunately, you also provided the 4:39 knot head support toward the claims.
Facts, the defense cannot stop a runny nose, 332 points allowed?
The best athletes in the school don't play football. I have been down the halls of the school, I have watched the games on Friday night, there are at least (probably more) 22 athletes that could suit up and beat our varsity walking the halls.
It's hard to admit, but you are not the best quarterback in the high school.
Finally, as much as I respect the hard work, time, effort and focus the team puts in in offseason workouts, camps, drills, weight room, 7v7, etc, the bottom line is this, the team did not get it done on Friday nights has not been getting done on Friday nights for several years going on two decades now.
Had you guys got it done on Friday nights, perhaps Chris Shields would still have his job.
And instead of spending time on message boards filled with no-name know-it-alls, perhaps you and your teammates should be busy recruiting the talent from the hallways to the football field, spend some time recruiting a new head football coach (news flash Colby, you don't have a coach right now!) and start the motivation to turn the program around.
Joplin called and spoke with three head coaches, all three said no.
Scott Bailey said no, Matt Webb said no, Mike Loyd said no.
Translation, its better at Lamar, Maryville and Grove than at Coffee Shop High School.
If the giant was awoke, the proof will be on display Friday nights this fall. I'll be there, will you be watching?

Anonymous said...

Awww...5:24, it sounds like your feelings have been hurt. At no point in young Mr. Cornett's comments did I see, he once mention being the "best" quarterback in the high school. However, doing a little research of my own, I did find some interesting facts, and stats don't lie. As a junior quarterback for the Joplin Eagles, young Mr. Cornett was ranked 3rd in the State of Missouri class 6A Football for: total passing yards(and you know as well as anyone mr.5:24, being at the games on Friday nights, that the Eagles didn't pass as much as they probably should have)and young Mr. Cornett was ranked 3rd also in the State of Missouri for total rushing yards by a quarterback, and also, 3rd in the State of Missouri for total overall yards by a quarterback. and it seems young Mr. Cornett was not too far behind the senior QB that just signed with Mizzou! So, maybe you are correct when you say young Mr. Cornett is not the "best" quarterback at the high school??? mmm but, being ranked 3rd in the State of Missouri isn't too shabby!
Easy does it 5:24, It seems young Mr. Cornett is simply supporting his teammates, coaches and school! Say's a lot for a young man to step up as a leader and speak his mind in support of something he truly believes in. Show the boys some positive support! I hope all the negativity and ignorance of "some" of the comments posted here WILL "wake a sleeping giant"! So, to young Mr. Cornett, whom 5:24 believes not to be the best quarter back at the high school, but apparently the number 3 Quarterback in the State of Missouri last year, and to the Joplin Eagles Football team...GO EAGLES! make us proud boys!

Unknown said...

Well said, Colby. -Jason Plassman

Unknown said...

Well said, Colby.

Anonymous said...

My name is Skyler Duley and I am a wide receiver at Joplin. You have no clue what you are talking about, you are nothing more than a coward. Colby Cornett is a very close brother of mine and as everyone knows he beat me out for the starting quarterback position. He EARNED it, he is a very good quarterback, #3 in the state of Missouri, very intelligent and has a passion for the game just like every other soldier in our program. I wish someone would come watch how much hard work and dedication we put in to the game. I can promise you you will not see another group work as hard as this Joplin football team. You sir are one of the so called "haters" that hopes we fail each and every year. I think we proved what kind of team we are last season. GO EAGLES!

Anonymous said...

Skyler duley-I only wish I could meet you face to face. Just so I could personally sit you down and give you a good what for! Not one kid that walks the hall would stand a chance against the varsity team,nor the jv or freshman at that!!! The Joplin football program is going to the right direction but none of you have enough football smarts to see that. The coaching staff is absolutely amazing, our coaches wish they could play with us and they are very good at there jobs. We may not have a coach at the moment but we aren't going to let that get in they way of what we are trying to do. GO EAGLES!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on your individual statistics Mr. Cornett and to your teammates who helped you achieve them.

I can read stats too, having to score over 42 points each week to win games does allow for a quarterback to post nice numbers running and throwing.

Please keep in mind, being the No. 3 statistical quarterback in Missouri Class 6 does not translate to the No. 3 best quarterback in Missouri. Again, those in the hallways question if you're even the best in the building.

You could have led the state in passing yards, rushing yards and touchdowns, the only number that really matters is 6-4, twice to Kickapoo, a school known for its basketball, not football. This just in, throw it to the guys in the Joplin jerseys, not the ones in yellow and brown.

6-4 vs. the Ozark Conference, but you're the No. 3 (stat) quarterback in Missouri Class 6. Congrats, I'm sure your coach is proud. Wait, what coach?

Anonymous said...

I know I'm very late on this reply, but I feel that I need to speak my mind on this topic. My name is Adam Norsworthy, runningback for JHS. I am also a very close friend to Mr. Cornett as well. You sir are nothing more than an internet bully who hides behind the screen to criticize high school athletes and coaches when you could not do the things that we do ourselves. What right have you earned to judge JHS for the way we do things? What right have you earned to even be able to walk the halls of our high school, and pick through students and decide whether or not they could be better football players than we are. You have NO right to say any of the things you've said on this entire article. You sound like someone who is quite mad at this entire situation, so you pick out the flaws in the entire system, and you drag them on to be worse than they really are. The reason why there may be some students in our school who could be playing at a higher level than the ones on the field is because, they aren't on the field for a reason. They couldn't handle the work we do. They couldn't handle the early morning practices, and the intense workouts. So what in your uneducated mind thinks that they could handle us? Instead of insulting high school students for all the time and effort they put into something, how about you do something to help fix whatever problem you think we have? If you would like to meet me face to face to talk about these issues, you just go ahead and let me know. I'm sure there are a lot more people than just me that would gladly do the same thing.

Anonymous said...

Gentlemen, please keep your thoughts coming. You're proving the point.
Not once did I question your work ethic, I applauded it.
Not once did I question your commitment, I noted it.
Not once did I question your effort, I have witnessed it.
Please, read this slowly and let it sink in, re-read the beginning of each post, I recognized your work ethic, determination and effort. I recognized your commitment to morning weights, running, camps, 7v7, video study, etc. If you perceive this recognition as negativity, so be it. Point taken and point proven.
It still does not change 18-22 over the last four seasons.
Instead of focusing on getting those athletes walking the halls to join you, you chose to focus on a perceived negative.
Instead of focusing on team goals, it was more important to note the statistics of the quarterback.
Instead of focusing on why the program is deserving of a coach who can come in and return it to its glory days of the 60's and 70's, your comments are the exact reason why any smart coach would steer clear of it.
Stop and look at the program from the outside, it has everything a high school football player or coach would want, brand new weight room, brand new locker rooms on campus and off, turf home stadium, turf practice field; coming off a winning season with starters back at several key positions.
What's missing? The head coach. You don't have one.
Why? Ask yourself that question and think hard, real hard. The answer is right in front of you.

Anonymous said...

Then answer my question. What right do you have to be saying any of the things that you've said? None at all.

Randy said...

All of you have the right to free speech, but it doesn't necessarily have to be here.I am uncomfortable with the idea of someone making his points at the expense of high school students. High school students have contributed many intelligent comments to the blog over the years and I hope they continue to do so, but I don't care for the direction much of the responses to the high school students have taken.

Anonymous said...

As a parent of a JHS student and athlete I want to address this article when people are slamming our students and athletes. It is one thing to be upset with the school board or the Administration but please do not defame our students. It is just wrong on so many levels. Don't forget that these are 14-18 year old children. The brain is not fully developed with adult reasoning skills until they are 25. So just stop it please. I will speak for my child alone, there are random drug testing procedures and my child has been tested 2 times since she has been in HS. Their policy for RDS is based on MSHSAA requirements.
You have really upset a lot of students with your comments and honestly I am pretty upset as well. Please do not talk bad about kids that are out there at every practice, giving 100% + of what they have. We have school pride, our kids have school pride and just because they aren't winning state championships lately doesn't mean they aren't giving every thing they have and getting better every year.
Your comments:
'A program that on any given Friday night, a person could grab 22 kids out of the stands and beat the varsity starters?"

"A program that belongs to a school that the kids could careless about football or even if it has team?"
"You forgot a school full of drugs with coaches and administrators that don't care, and don't drug screen like they are suppose to, and let them play anyway. Yes, this is a fact."

How dare you? These posts are just in bad taste and I can see why you kept your name anonymous. You should be ashamed. GO EAGLES!!!!!

Anonymous said...

To the Joplin Eagle Student/Athlete:
Special recognition to the following: Colby Cornett, Skyler Duley and Adam Norsworthy.
I’m afraid that what you are experiencing, on this blog, is your first taste of real life, and our freedom of speech being used to cut one down and not to lift one up. As Mr. Turner stated…some will abuse this right and attempt to make a point at the expense of high school students. Thank you Mr. Turner for caring enough to step in.

Gentleman, you will find that as life takes you all down certain paths, along those paths, you will encounter, cowards, ignorance, cheaters, liars, as well as people that are uneducated about certain topics in life and will make comments before finding out for themselves, what the facts of the topic really are. They then will use what little they have to go on, to find flaws, faults in systems, organizations, Governments, other people, and in this case kids…young men, standing up for what they believe in and defending it, and no matter what is said these people will continue to argue and attempt to save face, fully aware of the fact they have been defeated. I am extremely proud of you Colby Cornett for manning up and having the passion, intelligence, intestinal fortitude, the courage, and the love for other people (brothers on the field) in your life to take a stand on their behalf to defend them against the ignorance in today’s world. To you, Skyler Duley and Adam Norsworthy, we are proud of you for stepping up and defending your brothers when being attacked…for those that do not realize, these two young men are seniors and although they have played their last football game with the Joplin Eagles(you both will be missed this season) over the last few years have obviously built a relationship, a, brotherhood with each other that some won't ever understand, that will last a lifetime, and have a love for the program and respect for the coaches, that they both felt as though they too were under attack by the ignorant comments as did Colby Cornett. I for one think that speaks volumes about the young men, the players, coaches, and the program we have at Joplin High. In life, there will always be those who are trying to bring you down, remember these words…a quote from one of your own… “I just remind myself, who I am, who I work for, and why I do what I do…the rest is just noise.”

GO EAGLES!

Anonymous said...

Program went south when a couple of boosters made a deal with school board to fire Buckmaster. Admin didn't have courage to stand up to board. he left and went to NEO and was big reason they won Texas Juco league. Now he turned CJ into a great program with 21-3 record in his two years at CJ (all 3 losses to super power WC). Buck wasn't Goood enough for Joplin - big wigs at Joplin got what they deserved for not supporting their coach. Nobody wants this job because the coach doesn't have administrators who will provide support when certain parents bitch about playing time. Joplin better hire Buck's DC before he changes his mind. Players aren't the problem - the adults at JHS are the problem (AD, HS and district admin, board, and booster club)

Anonymous said...

If bucks dc is cl, we are in big trouble