By Bob Sutton
Special to The Alamance News
Williams has promoted Jimmy Lloyd, who has been an assistant coach for seven seasons, to head coach of the boys’ basketball team.
“A lot is going to be compacted into a very short time,” Lloyd said. “Of course, there will be new stuff.”
Lloyd takes the vacancy left by the recent retirement of longtime coach Tommy Cole, who had been coaching either the boys’ or girls’ teams – and at one point both teams – for four decades.
Lloyd works full-time for the City of Graham as director of inspections and chief code enforcement officer. He has worked for the city for 28 years.
His time with Williams basketball hasn’t been as long. After helping at Turrentine Middle School, he spent one season as a girls’ assistant coach under Freddie Shoffner before shifting to the boys’ team as Cole’s assistant for the past six seasons.
“I’ve been a part of Williams basketball for seven years,” Lloyd said. “It’s going to be strange without Cole there.”
Cole said Lloyd had a hands-on role with recent Bulldogs teams.
“He was a hard-working assistant coach. I can see him doing that as a head coach,” Cole said. “Very loyal to me and the high school.”
Lloyd, 48, is from Michigan. He has been married to Carrie Lloyd for 28 years. He has two college-aged daughters (Sara and Lauren), with Lauren Lloyd having played for Williams. Son Brayden Lloyd is at Turrentine Middle School.
Jimmy Lloyd said he had a long-time involvement coaching youth and travel teams, including those connected to the Mid-State Magic.
“I’ve always been a basketball nut,” he said.
That includes as a participant in lunchtime pick-up games, previously at Graham Recreation Center and more recently at Broad Street Gym in Burlington.
Lloyd oversaw recent team workouts, then holding the title of assistant coach.
Tryouts began this week, with the departures leaving numerous questions regarding the roster. The lone returnees might be Milton Turner and Brian Williams. There’s expected to be additions once the football team’s season ends in the state playoffs.
“It’s one of those things we’re in the process of rebuilding,” Lloyd said. “I know what’s coming.”
Lloyd said he likes having football players in the basketball program. He said the varsity team could ultimately have fewer than a half-dozen players who aren’t in the football program.
The Bulldogs open the season November 28 at Eastern Guilford.
