Mike Farrell Sports

College Football Recruiting, Opinion, and Analysis

Possible Head Coach Candidates for Troy: Familiar and Unfamiliar Names a Plenty

Mike Huesmann looks at Zac Etheridge, Alex Atkins, and other Troy head coach options.

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By Mike Huesmann:

Troy is in the carousel looking for a new head coach after two fantastic years of Jon Sumrall, who has left for Tulane. One of the top young head coaches in the game, Sumrall surprised some by not leaving for a P5 job but the program is undoubtedly better now than when he took over Chip Lindsey. This is a massive hire for the Trojans, who, I feel, risk fading back into anonymity if this hire doesn’t work. Here are five options for the Trojans.

Zac Etheridge

Auburn, Defensive Backs Coach

Etheridge is a name that immediately popped up when this job became available. He is young, dynamic, and bright. All qualities that worked with Jon Sumrall. The former Auburn player has coached at Penn State, Georgia Tech, Louisiana, and Houston. Hugh Freeze won’t want to lose him and Auburn may be able to offer him more money. This may come down to the ambition he has to take a head coaching job and what Troy could offer him in recruiting and NIL offerings.

Alex Atkins

Florida St., Offensive Coordinator

Pulling double duty as OC and offensive line coach this year showcased why Atkins has consistently been mentioned for head coaching positions. Under Norvell, his offense has prioritized running the ball and moving the chains. He rolls in backs and tight ends. He’s likely to be an FBS head coach in 2024 if he isn’t hired here first. This could be a solid first-head job for the young, magnetic, hard-recruiting Atkins.

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Bill Clark

UAB, Former Head Coach

Few men know the nuances of coaching a G5 team in the state of Alabama better than Clark. UAB hired Clark away from Jacksonville State and he built them into a competitor, going to a bowl game in year 2. He stepped away from UAB after the 2021 season, where he led them to a 9-4 record, because of back problems. Corrective surgery has supposedly done the trick and he is ready to coach again. Clark may not be the first choice, but we are seeing a trend of veteran, former head coaches getting jobs (New Mexico and Middle Tennessee just this year). He could be a safe and solid option who most can get behind.

Greg Gasparato

Troy, Defensive Coordinator/Interim Head Coach

Gasparato is in his second year as DC and will lead the Trojans in the Birmingham Bowl against Duke, a game that will feature two interim head coaches. However, with Duke having already hired Manny Diaz, Gasparato is the only one potentially coaching for his job. Team support seems to be behind him, as it usually is, and he has been with them for two solid seasons. He is the continuity candidate, which could mean more than in most instances. 

Gasparato has a legitimate chance for this job. If he doesn’t get this job I would expect him to become Sumrall’s DC at Tulane, where a DC has not been hired yet.

Jordan Lesley

West Virginia, Defensive Coordinator

Lesley, a Troy alumni was another guy who was immediately thrown into the conversation for this job. He has both played and coached for the Trojans, having been an assistant here for Neal Brown before following him to West Virginia. He also has extensive background coaching at the JUCOs in Mississippi, which could be an added bonus for recruiting. The Mountaineers were one of the most positively surprising teams in 2023 and Lesley played a huge role in that. The resume he has is one that has gotten many other guys hired by their alma mater. 

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