Troy University Women's Cheerleading

  The Bounds File Personal Information Birthday September 3 Hometown Meridian, Miss. Education Mississippi State, 2013 (Bachelor's) Playing Career Meridian CC, 2007-09 Birmingham Southern, 2009-10 Mississippi State, 2011-12 Wife Jessica Children Chisolm, Indiana, Ryder Coaching History 2023-26 Troy - Head Coach 2019-23 West Virginia - Assistant Coach 2014-19 Rice - Assistant Coach 2012-13 Mississippi State - Student Assistant Clay Bounds begins his third season as head coach of the Troy men's team in 2025-26 after leading the Trojans to the NCAA Championship for the first time in the program's Division I history. The Trojans defeated No. 10 North Carolina and No. 23 Texas Tech to finish fourth at the NCAA Urbana Regional to earn their spot in the NCAA Championship. Bounds led Troy to an at-large berth in the Regional thanks to a No. 51 national ranking and a pair of team victories for the first time since 2017. Troy's No. 9 seed in the Urbana Regional was the highest in program history.  Led by All-American Brantley Scott, the program’s first since 1993, Troy finished 29th in the country last season, while Jake Springer joined Scott on the All-Sun Belt First Team.  Bounds became the first Troy coach to earn Sun Belt Men's Golf Coach of the Year honors in program history as the Trojans set a program record with a 286.79 stroke average and 0.24 score vs. par this season.   In his first season with the Trojans, Troy turned in a pair of second place finishes as a team and made a run at match play at the Sun Belt Championship. Led by  Springer's near under-par average for the year, Troy finished second at the Everett Buick GMC Classic in the fall and tied for second at the Daytona Beach Intercollegiate in the spring. Additionally, Troy put together the 10th best opening round score in program history with a 283 at the USF Invitational in the fall, while Troy's 566 in the Border Olympics tied for the 10th best 36-hole mark in program history and its 851 at the Everett Buick GMC Classic ranked as the eighth-best 54-hole tally.  Springer led the Trojans with a 72.70 average for the year and accounted for eight of Troy's 42 rounds under par. Freshman Pablo Gracia led Troy with 10 rounds under par, while Scott paced Troy with five rounds in the 60s. Bounds, took over the Troy program following four years at West Virginia as an assistant coach.  During his career, Bounds helped coach and mentor West Virginia's first-ever All-American Mark Goetz and PGA Tour Canada member and Tour winner Etienne Papineau.    The Mountaineers shot a 281 in the second round of the Big 12 Championship this past spring, the lowest round by a WVU squad in the event in program history. Mountaineer golfers combined for 56 rounds under par and 401 total birdies during the 2022-23 season. In 2021-22, West Virginia won the Lake Las Vegas Intercollegiate with a 28-under-par tally, the lowest 54-hole, under-par score in school history. The 271 in the final round at Vegas tied for the lowest round team total in school history and the 17-under-par tally in the final round was the lowest round in school history in relation to par. Goetz won the Lake Las Vegas Intercollegiate and Mountaineer Invitational for his second and third collegiate tournament wins, the most in school history. Max Green was co-champion of the East Carolina Intercollegiate, becoming the third different Mountaineer to win a collegiate tournament. In Bounds' second season at WVU in 2020-21, Goetz became WVU's first-ever individual qualifier for the NCAA Regional Championship. He finished second, just missing a spot in the NCAA Golf Championship. After the season, he became the first WVU golfer to earn All-America honors. Goetz was the stroke-play medalist out of 312 golfers at the 121st U.S. Amateur at Oakmont Country Club, shooting 8-under-par.   The Mountaineers finished the 2020-21 season on a strong note. For the third year in a row, West Virginia won the Mountaineer Invitational, with Goetz being the only golfer in the field to shoot under par (-12). WVU's four-day total at the Big 12 Championship tied WVU's best 72-hole total at the championship, including a 283 in the third round, one shot off its best round in a Big 12 event. Also in the spring, WVU shot a 10-under-par 278 at the Seminole Intercollegiate, the eighth-best round in school history and posted the lowest team score in the three years of competing at the Gators Invitational.   Although his first campaign as a member of WVU's coaching staff was cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic, Bounds helped the Mountaineers make strides in 2019-20. WVU opened the season in a big way, achieving the program's first-ever top-25 ranking. The Mountaineers also recorded a pair of victories, first at their home tournament – The Health Plan Mountaineer Invitational – in October and second in a head-to-head matchup against Connecticut in February to open the spring season.   Despite the shortened season, he also helped coach WVU to four program records throughout the year. Papineau earned the first record with a program-best 54-hole total of 203 at the Old Town Club Collegiate Invitational before Logan Perkins earned a new 18-hole record-low score at the Florida Gators Invitational. Perkins shot a 62 to finish second overall in the tournament. As a team, the Mountaineers recorded a new 54-hole low round and total versus par at the Ka'anapali Collegiate Classic with an 826 total for 26-under par.   Bounds arrived in Morgantown in the summer of 2019, having spent the previous five seasons as an assistant coach at Rice. During his tenure with the Owls, Bounds helped guide the squad to team titles at the 2018 Ryman Hospitality Intercollegiate and the 2017 Jim West Intercollegiate, in addition to runner-up finishes at the 2018 Bob Sutton Invitational and 2016 Lone Star Invitational. The Owls jumped 60 spots in the Golfstat rankings, peaking at No. 86 in 2018 as they advanced to match play at the 2018 Conference USA Championships.   While at Rice, Bounds coached a trio of NCAA regional qualifiers in Jake Benson (2019), Mitchell Meissner (2018) and Mario Carmona (2018). Benson claimed medalist honors at the 2019 C-USA Championship, while Meissner was the 2016 Lone Star Invitational medalist.   Prior to his arrival in Houston, Bounds spent the 2012-13 season as a student assistant at Mississippi State, helping the Bulldogs to four tournament titles and a pair of runner-up finishes.   Bounds started his playing career at Meridian Community College, earning a trio of all-tournament honors as well as a designation on the MCC All-Academic Team. A two-time team captain and the 2008 Outstanding Freshman of the Year, he transferred to Birmingham Southern College before capping his playing career at Mississippi State. He played 15 rounds for the Bulldogs, qualifying for the 2012 SEC Championship.   A native of Meridian, Mississippi, Bounds earned a degree in accounting from Mississippi State. He and his wife, Jessica, have three children, Chisolm, Indiana and Ryder.   What They Are Saying About Clay Bounds   Sean Covich – West Virginia Men's Golf Head Coach "I'm excited for Clay to get this opportunity. He built great relationships with our players, and I know he will do the same at Troy. Clay is very familiar with the state of Alabama and the southeast region, which will serve him well in recruiting. But more importantly, Troy is getting a great father, husband and friend that will mentor and develop champions on and off the golf course."   Justin Emil – Rice Men's Golf Head Coach "I'm thrilled to see Coach Bounds get an opportunity to lead the Troy golf program. He has a strong ability to recruit top-notch student-athletes and develop them. He can build strong relationships with his players and help them reach their full potential. Clay is most importantly a man of great character and integrity, something those student-athletes will benefit from. Great hire by Troy Athletics."   Mark Goetz - West Virginia All-American & PGA Tour Canada Member "I was very lucky to have Clay Bounds as a coach while I was at West Virginia. Clay brought knowledge about preparation, course management and college golf, which greatly helped our team and the program. Clay had one of the most positive attitudes and demeanors of anyone I have met on and off the golf course. West Virginia Golf will miss his presence. I wish Clay, his wife Jessica and his family absolutely nothing but the best. I am excited to see what the future holds for him at Troy University."   Etienne Papineau - PGA Tour Canada Member "Clay is one of the most amazing individuals I've met in my life. He wants the best for his players and is always positive. Clay is always there for you no matter what, and as a player, it's great to have someone you can always rely on and go to. I am extremely happy for him and wish him, his wife, and his three boys the best of luck in their new chapter at Troy. He will do great, and they are lucky to have him."

Follow @GeradParker1 The Parker File Personal Information Birthday January 4 Hometown Louisa, Kentucky Education Kentucky, 2003 (Bachelor's) Kentucky, 2005 (Master's) Playing Career Kentucky, 2000-04 Wife Kandi Children Kolbi, Gwyneth, Rosalyn, Oliver   Coaching History 2024-26 Troy - Head Coach 2023 Notre Dame - Offensive Coordinator / Tight Ends 2022 Notre Dame - Tight Ends 2020-21 West Virginia - Offensive Coordinator / Wide Receivers 2019 Penn State - Wide Receivers / Passing Game Coordinator 2018 Duke - Wide Receivers 2017 Duke - Offensive Operations Assistant 2016 Purdue - Interim Head Coach 2015-16 Purdue - Wide Receivers 2006-07 Purdue - Tight Ends 2011-12 Marshall - Wide Receivers 2010      UT-Martin -  Wide Receivers / Passing Game Coordinator 2008-09 UT-Martin -  Running Backs 2007 Kentucky -  Graduate Assistant 2005-06 Raceland (Ky.) HS -  Wide Receivers / Defensive Backs   Gerad Parker, who led Troy to its third Sun Belt Championship Game appearance in the last four seasons, returns as Troy's head coach in 2026. Parker led the Trojans to a four-win improvement in 2025, including a five-win streak and a victory over South Alabama in the "Battle for the Belt".   Parker's second season was another in which he had to navigate serious injuries on the offensive side of the ball. Quarterback Goose Crowder suffered an injury on the fourth snap in Week 3 that cost him the following six games, while Troy's offensive line had multiple season-ending injuries, and the unit ended the year with just one of the original starting five still in the lineup.   Defensive and special teams led the way for the Trojans as Evan Crenshaw earned a trio of First Team All-America honors (FWAA, Sporting News, Phil Steele), Troy's first First Team All-American since 2007, while Donnie Smith led the Sun Belt in sacks – both players returned for the 2026 season.    Troy finished third nationally with five defensive touchdowns and 22nd with 2.64 sacks per game. Crenshaw was the first-ever Sun Belt Special Teams Player of the Year, and Smith became the second Trojan in the last three years to lead the league in sacks.    Parker's squad led No. 8 Clemson, 16-3, at halftime in Week 2, won big road games at Buffalo, Texas State and Southern Miss – the win over the Golden Eagles came on the final Saturday of the season and was a winner-take-all battle to represent the Sun Belt West in the SBC Championship Game.   Troy's momentum carried over to the offseason, where Parker and company signed the top recruiting class in the Sun Belt, second-ranked in the G5 (Boise State) and best in program history per On3. Additionally, the class ranked ahead of Penn State, Wisconsin, Colorado and others.   In his first season at Troy, the Trojans produced the first 1,000-yard rushing and receiving duo in more than a decade and just the third in program history as Damien Taylor rushed for 1,010 yards and Devonte Ross recorded 1,043 receiving yards; Troy's first since 2012.   Parker guided Troy to one of the best months of November in the country, as the Trojans won three of their final four games of the season and ranked as the nation's 19th-best offense and 25th-best defense that month.   His first season saw him inherit one of the most inexperienced teams in the country and then the loss of his starting quarterback after just 11 quarters of play. Troy's 12 players in their final year of eligibility were the fewest in the country, while Troy's 46 scholarship newcomers ranked as the third most nationally.    Ross finished the regular season fifth nationally with 11 touchdown catches and 15th in receiving yards. Additionally, Troy was one of the most efficient teams in the country, ranking second in the red zone and fifth on third downs.    Ten Trojans landed on All-Sun Belt Teams, highlighted by Ross' inclusion thrice, as a first team receiver and all-purpose selection and as the return specialist on the second team. Eight of Troy's 10 All-SBC picks had remaining eligibility.    The Trojans landed the Sun Belt's top recruiting class in Dec. 2024, signing 15 players with an 83.54 average per industry leader On3.    Parker took over the reigns of the Troy program following two seasons at Notre Dame, including as the OC his final year. He led a Notre Dame offense in 2023 that ranked eighth nationally, averaging 39.1 points per game, in addition to ranking 12th in passing efficiency and 29th in total offense. Audric Estime was one of the nation's elite running backs, ranking third in rushing touchdowns (18), eighth in rushing yards per game (111.8) and ninth in rushing yards (1,341).   Behind Parker's offense, the Fighting Irish posted a 9-3 record against one of the nation's most challenging schedules, including four straight games against ranked opponents. Offensive tackle Joe Alt was a consensus All-America selection, while Estime was named to the Associated Press All-America Team.   Notre Dame's offense increased production across the board in Parker's lone season calling the plays in South Bend. The Irish improved their scoring by more than a touchdown per game, in addition to seeing increases in yards per game, passing yards per game, yards per play and red zone scoring.    In his first season at Notre Dame, Parker coached the Irish tight ends and helped guide Michael Mayer to a consensus All-America season, as Mayer finished his career as the most prolific pass catching end in school history. Mayer led the Irish with 67 catches for 809 yards and nine touchdowns in 2022, finishing his time at Notre Dame first on the program charts for tight end catches (180), receiving yards (2,099) and touchdowns (18).   Parker joined the Notre Dame staff following two seasons with former Troy head coach Neal Brown at West Virginia, where he was the offensive coordinator and receivers coach.   In his final season with the Mountaineers, WVU knocked off Texas and No. 15 Virginia Tech en route to an appearance in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl. In 2020, despite having to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, West Virginia had one of the most improved offenses in the nation in terms of total yards, showing gains of more than 60 yards rushing per game, almost 30 yards passing a game, more than 90 yards of total offense and almost seven more points a game.   The offensive line had a productive year, with Leddie Brown rushing for 1,010 yards and nine touchdowns and Jarret Doege throwing for more than 2,500 yards and 14 touchdowns.   As Penn State's receivers coach and passing game coordinator in 2019, the Nittany Lions' offense averaged 35.8 points per game, ranking 15th nationally. Additionally, Penn State ranked 21st in red zone offense (90.4) and averaged 13.3 yards per completion, ranking No. 33 nationally.    Parker spent two years on the football staff at Duke (2017-18). During the 2018 season, his wide receivers accounted for 2,252 passing yards of the Blue Devils' 3,199 total offensive yards (70.4%).   He served his first year as the football operations assistant working with the offense in 2017. The Blue Devils offense had three All-ACC selections and, for the first time in program history, had three players with 500 or more rushing yards and a quarterback throw for more than 2,500 yards. Parker spent the spring as the running backs coach at Cincinnati before heading to Duke.   Prior to that, Parker spent four seasons at Purdue, where he coached the tight ends (2013-14) and wide receivers (2015-16). He was the recruiting coordinator and served as the interim head coach for the final six weeks of the 2016 season.   Parker spent two years as the wide receivers coach at Marshall (2011-12). The Thundering Herd led the nation in passing offense, averaging 365.1 yards per game. Receiver Tommy Shuler led the country and set the school record for receptions (110), ranking 18th nationally in yards per game (94.8).    Parker spent three seasons at UT-Martin as the running backs coach (2008), wide receivers coach (2009-10) and the passing game coordinator and recruiting coordinator (2010). He started his coaching career at Raceland High School in Raceland, Kentucky, and spent the 2007 season as a graduate assistant coach at Kentucky.   Parker earned two degrees from Kentucky, his bachelor's degree in business management in 2003 and his master's in education in 2005. He was a four-year letterwinner for the Wildcats, where he was a Southeastern Conference Scholar Athlete Honor Roll selection (2002-03) and CoSIDA Academic All-District IV Second Team honoree (2004).    A native of Louisa, Kentucky, Parker played at Lawrence County High School and set state receiving records with 238 catches, 4,814 yards and 52 touchdowns.   He and his wife, Kandi, have three daughters, Kolbi, Gwyneth and Rosalyn, and a son, Oliver.   Year School Record Conf. Record Conf. Finish Postseason 2025    Troy 8-6 6-2 1st (West) SBC Champ Game / IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl 2024 Troy 4-8 3-5 T-5th (West) Troy Totals 12-14 (.462) 8-7 (.533) 2016 Purdue (Interim HC)  0-6 0-6 7th (West) Purdue Totals 0-6 (.000) 0-6 (.000) Career Totals 12-20 (.375) 8-13 (.381)

  The Griffin File Personal Information Birthday January 26 Hometown Anniston, Ala.  Education Faulkner, 2021 (Bachelor's) Jacksonville State, 2022 (Master's) Playing Career Faulkner, 2018-21   Coaching History 2023-25 Troy - Assistant Coach 2023 Alabama Junior Golf Association - Assistant Tournament Director 2022 Auburn - Operations/Administration Assistant 2021-22 Jacksonville State - Graduate Assistant/Athletics Operations 2021-22 Cider Ridge CC - First Teachig Assistant / Assistant Pro  Nathan Griffin begins his first season as Troy's men's and women's golf assistant coach; he joins the Troy staff following a stint as the assistant tournament director for the Alabama Junior Golf Organization.   Griffin brings vast experience across multiple avenues in the golfing world with him to Troy following tenures with the Alabama Junior Golf Organization, Auburn men’s and women’s golf, Cider Ridge Golf Club and Faulkner men’s golf.   “We are very excited for Nathan to be joining our program,” men’s head coach Clay Bounds said. “He’ll be a great asset for both the men’s and women’s teams. Nathan brings a young and enthusiastic energy that will elevate our guys on and off the course. His positive attitude will serve us well as we continue to build on an already storied program.”   “Nathan brings an extensive golf background and knowledge of the game,” women’s golf head coach Randy Keck said. “His enthusiasm is contagious, and he will bring a nice energy and passion to our program. Nathan will assist in a lot of player development on the golf course and be a great resource for recruiting. He has a nice understanding of what we are looking for in players and what it takes to be successful at Troy University. He will be a very strong asset for both of our programs.”   Prior to his run with the Alabama Junior Golf Organization, Griffin was an operations and administration assistant for the Auburn men’s and women’s golf teams during the fall of 2022, following a year as a graduate assistant for the Jacksonville State athletics department during the 2021-22 athletics season.    Griffin began his professional career as a first teaching assistant at Cider Ridge for 15 months before moving into the assistant pro role at the club for 18 months before moving into the collegiate athletics realm at Jacksonville State.   He was a four-year letterwinner at Faulkner, where he was a three-time all-academic team member and a three-time Dean’s List selection.    Griffin earned his bachelor’s degree in sport and fitness management from Faulkner in 2021 and his master’s degree in sports management from Jacksonville State in 2022.  

  Follow @BooneBoonec The Boone File Personal Information Birthday May 2 Hometown Laurel, Miss. Education Southern Miss '96 (Bachelor's) Playing Career Southern Miss, 1995 Jones County JC, 1993-94 Wife Coco Children Cameron, Cassidee, Colton   Coaching History 2026 Troy - Outside Linebackers / Assistant Head Coach of Defense 2024-25 Troy - Outside Linebackers 2023 Samford -  Defensive Coordinator / Safeties 2021 East Mississippi CC -  Defensive Coordinator / Safeties 2018-20 Southern Miss Defensive Line 2015-17 Murray State -  Defensive Coordinator / Secondary 2014 Samford -  Defensive Line / Special Teams 2013 Northwestern State -  Defensive Coordinator / Secondary 2011-12  Jacksonville State -  Defensive Coordinator / Linebackers 2006-10 UT-Martin -  Defensive Coordinator / Secondary 2004-05 East Central CC -  Defensive Coordinator / Secondary 2002-03 Nicholls State -  Linebackers 2000-01 Arkansas-Monticello -  Defensive Line 1999 UAB -  Graduate Assistant 1998 Wayne County (Miss.) HS -  Linebackers 1997 Pearl River CC -  Linebackers 1996 Southern Miss -  Graduate Assistant   Chris Boone begins his third season as Troy’s outside linebackers coach in 2026, in addition to assuming the role of assistant head coach for defense.  He joined the Troy staff following a successful two-year run as defensive coordinator and safeties coach at Samford, where the Bulldogs won 17 games, the most by Samford in consecutive seasons since the 1991-92 campaigns.  Boone oversees both the Trojans’ bandits and spear positions, which produced at a high level in each of his first two seasons. In 2025, bandit Donnie Smith led the Sun Belt and ranked eighth nationally with 11 sacks, while spear Devin Lafeytte was a two-time All-SBC selection, including a first team pick in 2025.  Smith finished second nationally with a sack in nine games and tied for fourth nationally with a half tackle for loss in 12 games. He was one of just 13 players nationally with at least 10 sacks, 10 tackles for loss and 40 tackles. Troy ranked third nationally with five defensive touchdowns, 26th in red zone defense (77.8 percent), 22nd in sacks (2.64) and 33rd in tackles for loss (6.2) as the Trojans won the Sun Belt West Division title and played in the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl.  Lafayette earned All-Sun Belt honors in his first season with the program, while Phillip Lee and Jah-Mal Williams combined for 13 tackles for loss and six sacks from the bandit spot, as the Trojans won three of their final four games of the season and finished November as a top 25 defense nationally. In 2023, Samford posted its lowest-scoring defense in seven seasons and ranked 20th at the FCS level in explosive plays allowed. The Bulldogs led the Southern Conference and ranked sixth nationally in red zone defense. Additionally, linebacker Noah Martin earned multiple All-America honors after leading the SoCon with 109 tackles. Boone’s 2022 defense was a major part of leading the Bulldogs to a historic season, posting a record of 11-2 and reaching the quarterfinals of the FCS Playoffs for the first time since 1991. The Bulldogs posted a perfect 8-0 SoCon record, winning the program’s first outright league title.  Samford improved across the board defensively in his first season, including a 14-point decrease in points allowed, which led to a 71-spot improvement in the national rankings from the previous season. Additionally, the Bulldogs had the top FCS rushing defense per Pro Football Focus and the 11th-best total defense. Samford ranked second nationally in red zone defense touchdown percentage. Before Samford, Boone spent one season at East Mississippi Community College as the defensive coordinator and safeties coach. His 2021 defense led the nation in scoring defense, giving up just 12.8 points per game, and the unit ranked fourth nationally in total defense. From 2018 to 2020, he coached the defensive line and safeties at Southern Miss. His 2018 defense finished third in the nation in total defense, first in first down defense, sixth in rushing defense, ninth in team pass efficiency defense and 10th in red zone defense.  From 2015 to 2018, Boone was the assistant head coach/defensive coordinator/secondary coach at Murray State. His 2016 Racers defense led the Ohio Valley Conference in turnovers and ranked 25th nationally in both red zone defense and turnovers forced. Boone’s first stint at Samford came in 2014 when he coached the Bulldogs’ defensive line and special teams. That season, the Samford defense ranked second in the SoCon and 15th in the nation in total defense. The unit was also 16th nationally in scoring defense. Boone came to Samford from Northwestern State, serving as associate head coach, defensive coordinator and secondary coach in 2013. Boone’s defense finished second in the Southland Conference in total defense in 2013. The Demons also won six games for the first time in five years.     Prior to working at Northwestern State, Boone served as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Jacksonville State in 2011 and 2012. In 2012, his Jacksonville State defensive unit led the Ohio Valley Conference in red zone defense in league play. In 2011, Jax State won the OVC and led the league with 17 interceptions. From 2006 to 2010, Boone was assistant head coach, defensive coordinator and secondary coach at UT-Martin, reaching the FCS Playoffs in 2006. During his time at UT-Martin, Boone helped the Skyhawks post their best five-season record in school history, and he coached two All-America linebackers and a Buck Buchanan Award nominee.  Boone’s 2010 defense led the OVC in total defense, ranking 12th nationally, while the 2006 UT-Martin team won the OVC and finished 9-3 with a No. 13 national ranking. Boone’s defense led the OVC and finished sixth in the nation in total defense, scoring, rush, pass, and pass efficiency defense.  Boone was the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at East Central Community College from 2004 to 2005 and spent two seasons at Nicholls State prior to that. He has also coached collegiately at Arkansas-Monticello (2000-02), UAB (1999-2000), Pearl River Community College (1997-98) and Southern Miss (1996-97). He was a high school coach at Wayne County (Miss.) during the 1998 season. A 1997 graduate of Southern Miss, Boone played for the Golden Eagles in 1995. Prior to that, he played at Jones County (Miss.) Junior College, where he was a two-year starter and voted team captain in 1991 and 1992. Boone and his wife, Coco, have three children: daughters Cameron and Casidee and son Colton.

Follow @CoachBoyette The Boyette File Personal Information Birthday January 4 Hometown Wilson, N.C. Education Duke, 2009 (Bachelor's) Playing Career Duke, 2005-09 Wife Khristen Children Makenna, Mathias, Makai Coaching History 2026 Troy - Running Backs / Assistant Head Coach of Offense  2024-25 Troy - Running Backs 2023 East Carolina - Running Backs 2021 Duke - Co-Offensive Coordinator / Wide Receivers 2013-20 Duke - Running Backs 2012 Duke - Graduate Assistant Re’quan Boyette returns for his third season as Troy’s running backs coach in 2026 following two seasons at East Carolina and a 10-year career at Duke, where he was a two-time team captain as a player for the Blue Devils. Boyette navigated injuries in his room throughout the 2025 season, including the loss of starter Trey Cooley three days before the start of the season. Tae Meadows and Jordan Lovett combined to rush for more than 1,000 yards and eight touchdowns; Meadows’ 186 yards in the opener against Nicholls was the third-most in a season opener in program history. In his first season, Damien Taylor burst on to the scene as one of the nation’s top running backs as he became the 11th player in program history (13th overall time) to reach the 1,000-yard mark. After rushing for 376 yards and two touchdowns in his career, Taylor finished as the Sun Belt’s second-leading rusher with 1,010 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023.   Taylor ranked 12th in the country (min. 170 carries), averaging 3.99 yards after contact (third among G5 backs). Additionally, Gerald Green rushed for 545 yards and three touchdowns, as the pair combined to top the 100-yard mark seven times on the season.    Boyette coached the Pirates' outside receivers in 2022 and mentored a group that tallied 134 receptions for 1,689 yards (12.6 ypc) with 10 touchdowns before coaching ECU’s running backs in 2023.    In 2022, East Carolina ranked among the NCAA leaders in passing offense (16th/290.5), total offense (23rd/461.1), pass efficiency (28th/149.29) and scoring offense (35th/32/5), while graduate transfer Isaiah Winstead was one of two players on the squad to eclipse 1,000 receiving yards.   He worked his way up the ranks at Duke, beginning as a graduate assistant in 2012 before moving into a full time role in 2013 and eventually the co-offensive coordinator in 2021.   Boyette was part of a Duke program that advanced to the ACC Championship Game and Peach Bowl in 2013 and the Sun Bowl in 2014 before capturing postseason titles in the Pinstripe Bowl (2015), the Quick Lane Bowl (2017) and Independence Bowl (2018).   Under Boyette's guidance, the Blue Devils featured a pair of 700-yard receivers during the 2021 season and six pass-catchers who averaged more than 10 yards per reception.   Among Boyette's other notable highlights was Duke's rushing attack in 2015 when the Blue Devils ranked fifth in the ACC in ground yards per game (192.9), the team's highest average since 1977. Duke joined Clemson and North Carolina as the only squads in the league to rank among the conference's top five in rushing offense, passing offense, total offense and scoring offense.    Boyette's first unit in 2013 played a pivotal role in helping Duke rank among ACC leaders in scoring (5th/32.8 ppg), total offense (4th/426.1 ypg), rushing offense (5th/178.0 ypg) and passing offense (6th/248.1 ypg). On its way to the 2013 ACC Coastal Division Championship, the Blue Devils established a school record for total points (459) while becoming the first team in school history to post 25-plus rushing touchdowns and 25-plus passing touchdowns in the same season.   As a graduate assistant coach in 2012, he was part of a Blue Devil offensive staff that guided the Blue Devils to a then school single-season record 410 points as it reached a bowl game for the first time since 1994.   In all, Boyette developed and coached three players who went on to NFL careers - Juwan Thompson (Denver), Shaun Wilson (Tampa Bay) and Deon Jackson (Indianapolis) and was part of the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) 30 Under 30 inaugural selection for the Coaches' Leadership Institute in 2015.   Boyette lettered five seasons (2005-09) as a running back at Duke and served as team captain in 2008 and 2009. He rushed 314 times for 1,202 yards and five touchdowns in his career and became the 37th player in school history to reach the 1,000-yard mark on the ground. Boyette twice led the Blue Devils in rushing, in 2006 and 2007.   Boyette was named to the 2008 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Good Works Team and represented Duke at the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans, La. He graduated from Duke in 2009 with a degree in sociology and is married to the former Khristen Dial. The couple has one daughter, Makenna, one son, Mathias, and is expecting their third child in May.

  Follow @coachbanks2008 The Banks File Personal Information Birthday Nov. 4 Hometown Melvin, Ala. Education Troy, 2008 (Bachelor's) Playing Career Troy, 2004-07 Chicago Cubs Organization, 2000-03 Wife Shaundra Children Kimora, Braylon, Carter, Austin   Coaching History 2022-26 Troy - Wide Receivers 2021 Troy - Outside Receivers 2019-20 Choctaw County (Ala.) HS -  Head Coach 2018 Foley (Ala.) HS -  Offensive Coordinator / Wide Receivers 2014-17 Florence (Ala.) HS - Offensive Coordinator / Wide Receivers 2013 Miles College -  Receivers 2011-12 Spain Park (Ala.) HS - Outside Receivers   Trojan great Gary Banks begins his sixth season on the Troy staff in 2026 and fifth coaching the Trojan receivers after coaching the outside receivers in 2021. Banks won a pair of Sun Belt titles and played in two bowl games during his playing career for the Trojans before going on to a career in the NFL.   Troy has won a pair of Sun Belt championships and played for another during his five-year tenure. Additionally, four of his players have earned All-SBC honors, all while the Trojans having to replace their leading receiver in four of his five seasons.   Under Banks’ leadership, Trojan receivers have totaled at least 999 yards in two of the last three seasons, with Jabre Barber hitting the mark in 2023 and Devote Ross becoming just the sixth Trojan to reach the 1,000-yard threshold when he did it in 2024.   Entering the 2025 season, Troy lost four of its top five receivers from the previous year, and Banks mentored DJ Epps (who caught one pass in 2024) and RaRa Thomas (who hadn’t played in over a year) into a duo who caught 10 touchdown passes and finished with a combined 1,141 yards. Ross finished the 2024 regular season leading the Sun Belt and ranking fifth nationally with 11 touchdown reception; he finished the season with 76 catches for 1,043 yards, the sixth and fourth most in a season in Troy history, respectively.   In 2023, Chris Lewis tied for 16th nationally with 10 touchdown receptions during his first season with the program, while 10 different Trojans caught a touchdown pass, and Troy's receiver group ranked 15th in the country and third among the Group of Five per Pro Football Focus. In 2022, Banks and the Trojans finished the season ranked in a major poll for the first time in program history, checking in at No. 19 in the AP Top 25 and No. 20 in the USA Today/Coaches Poll. Additionally, Troy's appearance in the Coaches Poll and College Football Playoff Poll after its Sun Belt Championship Game victory were also firsts for the program.   Troy hosted and appeared in the Sun Belt Championship Game for the first time, reached the 12-win mark at the FBS level for the first time and hosted Army in front of a Veterans Memorial Stadium record crowd of more than 31,000 fans.   Transfer receiver RaJae’ Johnson had a career year in his lone season under Banks’ guidance ranking eighth nationally (min. 50 targets) with a 141.6 receiving rating per Pro Football Focus, while Tez Johnson led the country with a 90.5 receiver rating and ranked second behind Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison Jr., with an 89.9 overall offensive rating.   RaJae' Johnson ranked fourth in the Sun Belt with seven touchdown receptions in 2022, while Tez Johnson was an All-Sun Belt performer in 2021 after finishing second in the league in receptions.   Banks joins the Troy staff following two seasons as the head football and baseball coach and athletics director at Choctaw County High School in Butler, Ala. Prior to that, he spent the 2018 season as the offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Foley High School following four seasons (2014-17) at Florence High School.    In his first season at Florence, the Falcons posted an 11-3 record, won a district title and advanced to the Alabama 6A semifinals. Banks served as Florence’s offensive coordinator, quarterback coach and assistant head coach during his tenure in addition to working with the punt and kickoff returners.    A three-time All-Sun Belt selection for the Trojans, Banks currently ranks seventh all-time in Troy history with 155 career receptions and 14th in both receiving yards (1,625) and touchdown receptions (13). A native of Melvin, Ala., Banks joined the Troy program after playing Minor League Baseball in the Chicago Cubs organization for three years; he was selected by the Cubs in the fifth round of the 2000 MLB Draft.   Banks was a member of Troy’s first Division I bowl team (2004 Silicon Valley Classic) and led the Trojans in receiving in both 2006 and 2007; the first two of Troy’s five straight Sun Belt Conference titles. Banks caught the game-winning touchdown pass with 14 seconds remaining in the “Miracle at Murfreesboro” in 2006 as Troy rallied from a 13-point deficit late in the fourth quarter against Middle Tennessee.    Banks signed a free agent deal with the San Diego Chargers following his Troy career and spent three years with the organization and made his active roster debut in 2010 where he played in a pair of games.   Following his playing career, Banks joined the staff at Spain Park High School (2011-12) coaching the outside receivers, kick returners and punt returners in addition to running the junior varsity offense. Spain Park won the school’s first 6A regional championship in 2012 following a 10-3 overall record. Banks made his collegiate coaching debut the following season at Miles College (2013) where he helped lead the Golden Bears to a SIAC West Division title.   Banks earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Troy in 2008. He is married to the former Shaundra Craig and the couple has four children, Kimora, Braylon, Carter and Austin.

  Follow @CoachWright37 The Wright File Personal Information Birthday May 26 Hometown Louisa, Kentucky Education Miami (Ohio), 2007 (Bachelor's) Playing Career Miami (Ohio), 2003-06 Wife Jillian Children Joseph   Coaching History 2024-26 Troy - Defensive Coordinator / Safeties 2020-23 West Virginia - Safeties 2018-19 Western Michigan - Safeties 2017 Tennessee Tech - Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Ends 2016 Tennessee Tech - Defensive Ends 2015 Morehead State - Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Line 2013-14 Morehead State - Defensive Line 2012 Centre College - Defensive Line 2010-11 North Alabama - Defensive Line 2007-09 Kentucky - Graduate Assistant Dontae Wright begins his third season as Troy’s defensive coordinator and safeties coach in 2026, following four seasons on Neal Brown’s staff at West Virginia, where he coached the Mountaineers’ safeties. In his second season, Troy ranked third nationally with five defensive touchdowns, 26th in red zone defense (77.8 percent), 22nd in sacks (2.64) and 33rd in tackles for loss (6.2) as the Trojans won the Sun Belt West Division title and played in the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl. Donnie Smith led the Sun Belt and ranked eighth nationally with 11 sacks; he finished second nationally with a sack in nine games and tied for fourth nationally with a half tackle for loss in 12 games. He was one of just 13 players nationally with at least 10 sacks, 10 tackles for loss and 40 tackles. In his first season, the Trojans finished the season winning three of their final four games and ranked as a top 25 defense in November. The Trojans closed out his first season third in the Sun Belt, allowing just 143.3 rushing yards per game and led the league, allowing 122.5 rushing yards in league contests. Brendan Jackson led all Sun Belt linebackers with 16 tackles for loss in his first season with the program as Wright had to replace 10 starters on defense from the 2023 squad.   Additionally, the Trojans led the Sun Belt allowing just 32 third-down conversions during league play and allowed just 13 passing touchdowns all season, the second fewest in the league and 24th fewest nationally. In 2023, West Virginia posted its first nine-win season since 2016, highlighted by a victory over North Carolina in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl, where West Virginia yielded just 10 points to a Tar Heel team that entered the game with the nation’s seventh-best offense.     In 2022, safety Aubrey Burks earned All-Big 12 first-team honors from Pro Football Focus and second team honors by the Associated Press, finishing second on the team with 66 tackles. Burks followed that with another all-conference campaign in 2023 after recording a pair of interceptions, six pass break ups and 48 tackles, while spear Jasir Cox was named a third-team selection by PFF in 2022.   In 2021 Big 12 games, West Virginia tied for second in the league in interceptions and was third in passing defense, giving up only 211.2 yards per game through the air. The Mountaineers were fifth in the nation in red zone defense and ranked 18th in fewest first downs allowed.    Safety Sean Mahone made his mark on and off the field. He was named a finalist for the National Football Foundation’s Campbell Trophy, also known as the Academic Heisman, and was a member of the Scholar-Athlete team, one of college football’s most prestigious academic teams.    Safety Alonzo Addae finished as West Virginia’s third-leading tackler (73), had three pass breakups and earned All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honors. He signed a professional contract with the CFL’s Ottawa Redblacks after being drafted as the No. 13 pick of the 2021 CFL Draft.   The West Virginia defense had an outstanding year in 2020, leading the nation in pass defense and ranking fourth in total defense (291.4), 21st in scoring defense (20.5), 23rd in interceptions (11), 24th in pass efficiency defense (121.52) and 28th in rushing defense (131.8).   Wright spent two seasons at Western Michigan prior to his stint at WVU, and his safeties helped the Broncos turn around their scoring defense in 2019, yielding 25.9 points per game, the best for the program since surrendering just 19.8 in 2016 and nearly nine points per game better than the 34.5 points a contest allowed in 2018. The group held three of its final five opponents to fewer than 150 passing yards.    Prior to WMU, Wright served as an assistant coach at Tennessee Tech for two seasons (2016-17), mentoring the specialists and the defensive ends. At the beginning of the 2017 season, Wright was promoted to defensive coordinator.    In 2017, the Golden Eagles yielded 15.8 points per game, dropping more than 11 points from the 2016 average of 26.9. Wright guided the 2016 defensive squad to five Ohio Valley Conference wins.    Before joining Tennessee Tech, Wright spent three seasons (2013-15) at Morehead State. He was the defensive coordinator for the 2015 season and worked with the defensive line, special teams and was a recruiting coordinator during his tenure.    As the defensive coordinator, he lowered Morehead State’s points allowed per game by 18.3, which was the second-largest improvement from the previous year for all Division I schools, FBS and FCS. The Eagles ranked in the top 10 in the FCS for interceptions (18) and turnovers (28) and in the top 20 for tackles for loss.   Wright also made a coaching stop at Centre College and spent two seasons (2010-11) at North Alabama, helping the Lions to a combined 18-8 record and an NCAA Division II Playoff appearance.   Wright was a graduate assistant at Kentucky from 2007-09, working with the linebackers his first season and the defensive line the last two. During his time in Lexington, the Wildcats made two Music City Bowl appearances and one Liberty Bowl trip.   As a player, Wright was a four-year linebacker at Miami (Ohio) from 2003-06 and was a part of two Mid-American Conference East Division championship teams. The RedHawks won the conference outright in 2003, earning a spot in the GMAC Bowl. They won a division crown in 2004 and participated in the Independence Bowl.    A native of Louisa, Kentucky, Wright earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education from Miami in 2007. Wright is married to the former Jillian Slone, and the couple welcomed their first child, Joseph, in July.  

  Follow @Coach_NBurton The Burton File Personal Information Birthday April 29 Hometown Atlanta, Ga. Education Georgia Tech, 2005 (Bachelor's) Playing Career Georgia Tech, 2001-04 Wife Britney Children Charlie, Grady, Isaac, William Coaching History 2024-26 Troy - Co-Defensive Coordinator / Inside Linebackers 2023 Kennesaw State - Defensive Coordinator 2022 New Orleans Breakers - Defensive Backs 2019-21 Georgia Tech - Co-Defensive Coordinator / Safeties 2018 Temple - Defensive Backs 2017 NC State - Defensive Quality Control 2014-16 West Alabama - Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Backs / Linebackers 2012-13 Shorter - Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Backs 2010-11 UT-Martin - Linebackers / Defensive Backs 2009 Oklahoma State - Graduate Assistant 2005-08 Georgia Tech - Graduate Assistant

  Follow @Coach_Carbine The Carbine File Personal Information Birthday June 28 Hometown Florence, Ala. Education Troy, 2015 (Bachelor's) Playing Career Troy, 2011-14 North Alabama, 2010 Wife Laura Beth   Coaching History 2024-26 Troy - Offensive Line 2023 Notre Dame - Sr. Offensive Analyst 2022 North Alabama - Offensive Line 2019-21 West Virginia - Graduate Assistant 2016-18 Troy - Graduate Assistant Former Troy offensive lineman Caleb Carbine returns to his alma mater for his third season coaching the Trojan offensive line in 2026.  Carbine had one of the most challenging coaching jobs in the country in his first two seasons, as the Trojans deployed six different starting OL units both seasons due to injuries.  The 2025 unit was led by a pair of All-Sun Belt selections as Eli Russ took home second team honors and Matt Henry earned third team honors. His first season saw the six different lineups come in the first eight weeks of the season. Once able to field a stable unit, Carbine’s offensive line gelled into one of the tops in the Group of Five. The Trojans allowed just four sacks in November, the fewest in the Sun Belt, and the offensive line paved the way for Damien Taylor to rush for 1,010 yards, the 13th 1,000-yard season in program history. Carbine’s unit blocked for three different starting quarterbacks throughout the 2024 season and allowed for just the third 1,000-yard rushing/receiving combo in program history, as Devonte Ross joined Taylor in the 1,000-yard club.   Daniel King earned All-Sun Belt honors after moving from guard to tackle, where he finished as the Sun Belt’s second-best run blocker in addition to allowing just two sacks.   Carbine joined the Troy staff following one season as a senior offensive analyst at Notre Dame under Troy head coach Gerad Parker.   Notre Dame put together one of their best offensive seasons in program history in 2023 with Carbine on staff. Notre Dame ranked seventh nationally, averaging 39.2 points per game, in addition to ranking ninth in passing efficiency and 29th in total offense. Audric Estime was one of the nation's elite running backs, ranking third in rushing touchdowns (18) and eighth in rushing yards per game (111.8).   The Fighting Irish posted a 10-3 record against one of the nation's most challenging schedules, including four straight games against ranked opponents, and their 32-point victory over Oregon State in the Sun Bowl was the largest victory by a Notre Dame squad in a bowl game. Offensive tackle Joe Alt was a consensus All-America selection, while Estime was named to the Associated Press All-America Team.   Notre Dame's offense increased production across the board in Carbine’s lone season on staff in South Bend. The Irish improved their scoring by more than a touchdown per game, in addition to seeing increases in yards per game, passing yards per game, yards per play and red zone scoring.    Carbine joined the Notre Dame staff following one season as the offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator at North Alabama, where he began his playing career in 2010. The Lions ranked 29th nationally in rushing offense and averaged nearly 30 points a game, while ShunDerrick Powell ranked fourth nationally with 1,508 rushing yards and 18 rushing touchdowns.   Prior to his stint at UNA, Carbine spent three seasons at West Virginia working with former Troy head coach Neal Brown. Serving as a graduate assistant for the Mountaineers, Carbine worked with tight ends, fullbacks, offensive line and quarterbacks. The Mountaineers won the 2020 Liberty Bowl, played in the 2021 Guaranteed Rate Bowl and produced Freshman All-American offensive linemen in Zach Frazier (2020) and Wyatt Milum (2021).   Carbine began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Troy, working with special teams in 2016. That season, he was part of one of the biggest turnarounds in college football as the Trojans earned the first AP Top 25 ranking in conference history and the first 10-win season at Troy at the FBS level. In 2017-18, he was a graduate assistant with the Troy offense, working specifically with the offensive line. The Trojans had the most wins in school history during his three-year tenure, going 31-8 while winning the Dollar General Bowl twice, the New Orleans Bowl and a Sun Belt Conference title. Four of Troy's five starting offensive linemen were named to the All-Sun Belt Conference team in 2017 and 2018. Carbine transferred to Troy in 2011 and played for the Trojans through the 2014 season. He was a two-year starter at center at Troy after walking on and earning a scholarship after his junior season. He was part of an offense that led the Sun Belt Conference in total offense, passing offense and scoring offense. That unit also finished second in the conference in fewest sacks allowed. He is married to the former Laura Beth Hatcher, a Troy graduate.

  Follow @CoachJMann919 The Manning File Personal Information Education NC Central, 2011 (Bachelor's) Fayetteville State, 2013 (Master's) Boston College, 2013 (Master's) Playing Career NC Central, 2007-10   Coaching History 2026 Troy - Defensive Line / Defensive Run Game Coordinator 2024-25 Troy - Defensive Line 2022-23 Tufts College - Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Line 2021 Duke - Special Asst. to HC / Defensive Quality Control 2020 Eastern Illinois - Defensive Line / Outside Linebackers 2017-19 Duke - Defensive Quality Control 2016 Tufts College - Cornerbacks 2014-15 Boston College - Graduate Assistant 2012-13 Fayetteville State - Graduate Assistant Justin Manning begins his third season as Troy’s defensive line coach in 2025, following two seasons as the defensive coordinator at Tufts College and a four-year stint at Duke. He added the title of defensive run game coordinator ahead of the 2026 season. In his second season, Troy’s primary interior defensive linemen combined for 29 tackles for loss and 12 sacks, led by All-Sun Belt selection Luis Medina. Additionally, Medina and Taleeq Robbins both found the end zone for the Trojans, as Troy ranked third nationally with five defensive touchdowns on the season. Troy also ranked 26th in red zone defense (77.8 percent), 22nd in sacks (2.64), and 33rd in tackles for loss (6.2) as the Trojans won the Sun Belt West Division title and played in the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl.  In his first season, the Trojans finished the season winning three of their final four games and ranked as a top 25 defense in November. The Trojans closed out his first season third in the Sun Belt, allowing just 143.3 rushing yards per game and led the league, allowing 122.5 rushing yards in league contests. Manning’s defense ranked 14th nationally in 2023, allowing just 250.8 yards per game, 13th yielding just 145.2 yards per game through the air and fifth in first down defense (137). The Jumbos allowed 19 or fewer points in 8-of-9 games during regulation; one game went into five overtimes.   Tufts’ 2022 season allowed 13 or fewer points in 40 percent of its games and Manning led a defense that feature five all-conference selections. During the summer of 2023, Manning was selected for the NFL Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship and worked with the Atlanta Falcons' linebacker position group.    It was Manning’s second run at Tufts as he spent the 2016 season as a cornerbacks coach, helping the Jumbos to a 7-1 record, the program’s best record since 1998.    Tufts’ defensive unit held foes to 18.9 points per game and just seven rushing touchdowns during the campaign. Cornerback Tim Preston was selected to the New England Small College Athletic Conference First Team after leading the league with five interceptions.   Manning had two different tenures at Duke, serving as the special assistant to the head coach and defensive quality control in 2021 and the 2017-19 seasons on the Blue Devil coaching staff, as well as serving as a football operations assistant working primarily with the defense.   Manning helped the Blue Devils to two winning seasons and two bowl game appearances at the 2017 Quick Lane Bowl and the 2018 Walk-On’s Independence Bowl. While with the Blue Devils, he worked closely with All-America linebacker Joe Giles-Harris and All-ACC tackle Mike Ramsay.   Between his two stints at Duke, Manning served as defensive line coach at Eastern Illinois during the 2020 season.   Manning spent the summer of 2015 as a coaching intern with the NFL’s San Diego Chargers, where he assisted with the daily preparation of the tight end unit, served as quality control of the two-minute offense and handled statistical analysis and film breakdown of opponents’ two-minute offenses.   Before his summer stint in the NFL, Manning served the 2014-15 seasons in various roles at Boston College. He was an assistant recruiting specialist, special teams assistant and assistant running backs coach during his time with the Eagles. While at Boston College, Manning worked with All-ACC running back Jon Hilliman.   Manning graduated from North Carolina Central in 2011 with a degree in business administration and was a four-year letterwinner as a fullback with the Eagles. He earned a master’s degree in criminal justice from Fayetteville State. 

  Follow @CoachRhino68 The Reihner File Personal Information Birthday Hometown Scranton, Pa. Education Stanford, 2014 (Bachelor's) Playing Career Stanford, 2011-14 Penn State, 2015 Wife Jo Children Georgia   Coaching History 2026 Troy -  Offensive Line 2024-25 Troy - Tight Ends / Tackles 2023 Notre Dame - Sr. Offensive Analyst 2022 Old Dominion - Offensive Coordinator / Offensive Line 2020-21 Old Dominion - Offensive Line 2019 Penn State - Graduate Assistant 2018 Delaware - Tight Ends 2017 Wake Forest - Graduate Assistant 2016 Fordham - Offensive Quality Control Kevin Reihner begins his third season at Troy and first coaching the offensive line; he coached the tight ends and tackles in his first two seasons. Reihner joined the Troy staff following one year as the senior offensive analyst at Notre Dame and three seasons as the offensive line coach at Old Dominion. Ethan Conner became the first tight end in program history to earn All-Sun Belt Conference honors, taking second team distinction following the 2025 season. Conner caught 31 passes for 397 yards and three touchdowns; it was the fourth-most receptions, second-most yards and second-most touchdowns among tight ends in the Sun Belt. The Trojans won the Sun Belt West Division title and played in the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl. Troy’s tight end play was at an elite level in 2024 with the Trojans rolling as many as four on the field the majority of the season. The unit combined for 35 catches, 375 yards and six touchdowns. All six of the touchdowns from the tight end position came in Troy’s final five games of the season.   Reihner’s work with the offensive tackles helped the Trojans allow just four sacks in November, the fewest in the Sun Belt, and the offensive line paved the way for Damien Taylor to rush for 1,010 yards, the 13th 1,000-yard season in program history.    The Fighting Irish put together one of their best offensive seasons in program history in 2023 with Parker as the offensive coordinator and Reihner on staff. Notre Dame ranked seventh nationally, averaging 39.2 points per game, in addition to ranking ninth in passing efficiency and 29th in total offense. Audric Estime was one of the nation's elite running backs, ranking third in rushing touchdowns (18) and eighth in rushing yards per game (111.8).   The Fighting Irish posted a 10-3 record against one of the nation's most challenging schedules, including four straight games against ranked opponents, and their 32-point victory over Oregon State in the Sun Bowl was the largest victory by a Notre Dame squad in a bowl game in program history. Offensive tackle Joe Alt was a consensus All-America selection, while Estime was named to the Associated Press All-America Team.   Notre Dame's offense increased production across the board in Reihner's lone season on staff in South Bend. The Irish improved their scoring by more than a touchdown per game, in addition to seeing increases in yards per game, passing yards per game, yards per play and red zone scoring.    Reihner took over Old Dominion's offensive coordinator duties right before the 2022 season and was one of the youngest coordinators in the country that year. The Monarchs defeated Virginia Tech in the 2022 season opener and a trio of offensive players earned All-Sun Belt honors in ODU's first trip through the Sun Belt. Ali Jennings led the league, averaging 106.6 receiving yards per game and with nine touchdown grabs. In 2021, Reihner led an offensive line that paved the way for the third-best rushing offensive in Conference USA and helped Blake Watson secure the third 1,000-yard season by an ODU back in program history. ODU set the single-game record for rushing yards in the second game of the year against Hampton when the Monarchs rushed for 358 yards. Despite a young offensive line featuring just one senior, ODU ran for more than 100 yards in 9-of-12 contests and three times for more than 200 yards.  Prior to his stint at Old Dominion, Reihner was a graduate assistant coaching the offensive line at Penn State in 2019, where the Nittany Lions finished 15th in the country in scoring at 35.8 points per game.   Before joining the Penn State staff, he was the tight ends coach at Delaware, where he helped the Blue Hens to the 2018 FCS Playoffs for the first time since 2010, and tight end Charles Scarff earned FCS All-American honors. Reihner was a graduate assistant offensive line coach in 2017 at Wake Forest and helped the Demon Deacons finish 8-5 and end the year with a Belk Bowl win over Texas A&M.   Reihner began his coaching career as the offensive quality control coach at Fordham, where he helped the Rams to an 8-3 record. He earned his bachelor's degree in engineering management from Stanford, where he helped lead the Cardinal to a pair of Rose Bowl appearances and a Fiesta Bowl berth before becoming the first-ever graduate transfer to play at Penn State. While playing with the Nittany Lions, Reihner played in 13 games, including Penn State's appearance in the Gator Bowl. He is married to the former Jo Baird and the couple has one daughter, Georgia.

  Follow @QBsWork16 The Austin File Personal Information Birthday Hometown Mundelein, Ill. Education Arizona '07 (Bachelor's) Marshall '10 (Master's) Playing Career Arizona (2005-06) Wife Aubri Children   Coaching History 2026 Troy - Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks 2024-25 Tarleton State -  Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks 2021-23 Tarleton State -  Quarterbacks 2021 Spring Missouri Southern State -  Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks 2020 Garden City CC -  Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks 2019 Eastern Kentucky -  Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks 2013-18 Midwestern State -  Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks 2011-12  Midwestern State -  Quarterbacks 2009-10 Marshall  -  Graduate Assistant 2008 Grambling State -  Graduate Assistant Adam Austin begins his first season as Troy's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2026 after he was the architect of the highest-scoring offense in the FCS ranks in 2025.   Austin just completed his second season as the offensive coordinator at Tarleton State, where the Texans led the FCS, averaging 42.4 points per game, while ranking ninth in total offense (457.6), 16th in passing yards (263.6) and 18th in rushing (193.9). In his two seasons calling plays, Tarleton averaged 36.6 points and 436.7 yards per game.   Tarleton finished the 2025 season as the top-scoring team at the FCS level and second-ranked scoring team across all Division I football, averaging 42.4 points per game. The Texans topped the 50-point mark five times during the season, including a stretch of four straight games. Additionally, Tarleton defeated Army during the second week of the season; the Black Knights defeated Kansas State the following week and won the Fenway Bowl at the end of the season.   The Texans finished the 2025 season tying a program record with 12 wins, earning the No. 4 seed in the FCS Playoffs and winning a United Athletic Conference regular season title. Tarleton became the first program since Troy in 1993 to make the quarterfinals of the FCS Playoffs in its first two years of playoff eligibility.    Austin coached a trio of All-Americans on the offensive side of the football in 2025, in linemen Braden Smith and Hunter Smith and running back Tre Page. Page was a finalist for the 2025 Jerry Rice Award, which honors the top freshman at the FCS level after he rushed for 104.9 yards per game and 7.5 yards per carry.    The Tarleton offense was efficient, averaging 15.57 yards per completion, second best in the country, and the Texans turned the ball over just nine times, the fifth fewest in the country. Victor Gabalis ranked eighth nationally with a 163.7 passing efficiency, while the Texans boasted a 1,000-yard receiver and four players with 450-yard or better rushing seasons.    Austin's first season as offensive coordinator was a precursor for his second as the Texans burst onto the FCS scene.    Tarleton finished the 2024 season 10-4 overall and became the fifth team in the history of the FCS Playoffs (Division I-AA Playoffs), which goes back 46 years, to win their first playoff game at the FCS level in their first year eligible after reclassifying from NCAA Division II after defeating Drake in the opening round; the Texans were the first team to make the FCS Playoffs in their first year following reclassification since South Dakota State in 2009.    The Texans finished the season ranked No. 12 in the final AFCA FCS Coaches Poll were ranked in both major FCS polls each week of the 2024 campaign, one of just 11 teams to do so.    Austin's offense ranked fourth in the country in pass yards per completion (14.5), fifth in red zone offense (.933), ninth in first downs (300), tied-13th in sacks allowed per game (1.14), 22nd in total offense (415.8 yards per game), 23rd in rushing offense (191.1 yards per game), 28th in scoring offense (30.7 points per game), 34th in tackles for loss allowed per game (4.71) and 42nd in passing offense (224.7 yards per game).    Tarleton had the nation's top rusher in Kayvon Britten (1,982 yards) and the top receiver in the country in Darius Cooper (1,450 yards). The duo collected a combined nine All-American honors, including both earning Associated Press FCS All-America First Team honors.    He served as the Texans' quarterbacks coach for four seasons prior to assuming the OC duties in 2024. In his first two seasons at Tarleton, Texan quarterbacks produced seven 300-plus yard performances, including a conference-high five in 2022. The Texans finished third in the WAC with 24 passing touchdowns, throwing for 2,883 yards across 11 games, averaging 262.1 passing yards per contest.   In 2023, under Austin's guidance, the Texans averaged 33.3 points per game, the second most in the UAC and 13th nationally. They also averaged 430.5 yards per game (second in the UAC, 14th in the FCS) with 6.4 yards per play (most in the UAC, 11th in the FCS).    In 2022, Tarleton's passing attack was a significant factor in the Texans' posting a winning record. Austin mentored 2022 WAC Newcomer of the Year Beau Allen, who threw for 2,836 yards, 23 touchdowns and 257.8 passing yards per game. Allen led the WAC with 23 passing touchdowns as well as 300+ passing yard games with five.    Austin played quarterback at Arizona in 2005-06, where he led the Wildcats to wins over Stephen F. Austin and Stanford as a senior starter and helped Arizona become bowl eligible for the first time in eight years.   Following his playing career, Austin spent three years as a graduate assistant coaching tight ends, quarterbacks and wide receivers for a season at Grambling State, where he won a SWAC Championship, and two seasons at Marshall.   Austin landed his first full-time role as the quarterbacks coach at Midwestern State in 2011, where he won back-to-back league titles and was part of the top-scoring offense in NCAA Division II. He was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2013 – a title he would keep for six seasons with the Mustangs.   In 2017, the Mustangs had one of the top offenses in the nation. Midwestern State ranked eighth in the country (42.5 points per game) and 11th in total offense (483.3 yards per game). Austin was an NCAA Division II Coordinator of the Year finalist after the 2017 season. The following year, the Mustangs ranked eighth nationally in total offense (506.2 yards per game) and 11th in scoring (41.8 points per game).   He spent one season at Eastern Kentucky in 2019 as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach before leaving for Garden City Community College in 2020; Austin never coached a game for GCCC because the COVID-19 pandemic canceled games that fall. He transitioned to Missouri Southern State in February of 2021 and coached one spring game – a 21-20 win against Southern Nazarene – before making the move back to Tarleton.   A native of Mundelein, Illinois, Austin graduated from Arizona in 2007 with a degree in interdisciplinary studies. He earned a master's degree in adult and technical education from Marshall in 2010. He is married to the former Aubri Billman.