Ferriday — Josh Loy has closed a chapter of turmoil in his life.

Roughly one year removed from being terminated by Trinity Episcopal Day School for reasons relating to allegations raised by parents and students regarding a hazing incident, Loy has a new school and positive outlook. As he watched his Delta Charter School football team practice behind the Storm’s end zone, Loy revealed that he isn’t holding any grudges about what transpired after completing a 13-0 state-championship winning season.

“I’ve put it past me,” Loy said. “It’s over with. It’s done. I reached a goal of mine with that team. It can’t be taken away from me, and I have a ring to show for it. It’s in the rearview mirror now.”

Staring in front of Loy Wednesday afternoon were a collection of sixth-grade through 10th grade students, and that’s where Loy’s focus remains. Loy has inherited a bunch that got its first taste of football last season, and he knows he has a lot of work to do before the start of the Storm’s junior varsity football schedule, which kicks off at Tensas Sept. 11.

“It’s challenging,” Loy said. “It’s a totally different animal. It’s exciting because we get to set the traditions. I was always intrigued by this job because of that. You don’t have to worry about the guy in front of you and how many state championships he won.”

One thing that’s remained a constant is Loy’s level of stress. Recently, his stress level is high because of the overall number of ninth and tenth graders at the school. With 46 players on the roster, Loy is hoping the school can maintain its 75-plus students who are in the ninth and tenth grade. In order to be accepted by the Louisiana High School Athletic Association, a school must have 75 students through Oct. 2. If Delta Charter can keep that number up until then, Loy and his Storm will buckle up chinstraps against varsity competition next year.

Until then, it’s all about teaching the fundamentals and getting the team accustomed to Loy’s spread system, which will emphasize speed and athleticism on the perimeter to get athletes in space. Along with installing his system, Loy wants his team to inherit toughness.

“We really try to stress competing,” Loy said. “We want to compete in the weight room, in sprints and in drills. If you instill competition in an eighth grader, it’s going to make our job easier down the road.”

One of the players that Loy was trying to mold at practice Wednesday was a familiar face to the head coach. Thomas Richard, who played for Loy with the Saints, wanted to transfer wherever his former coach went.

“That’s exactly what made me come over here,” Richard said. “He’s just a good coach and a good guy. As soon as he came, I knew that’s where I was going.”

As for Loy making the transition from a senior-laden class to teaching the basics to a relatively inexperienced bunch, Loy understands the process, and he’s in no hurry to rush their development.

“We’re building this from the ground up,” Loy said. “We’re going to be patient with it.”