Troy announced Sunday that it is parting with third-year head coach Chip Lindsey, who has compiled a 15-19 mark since arriving for the 2019 season from his previous post as Auburn’s offensive coordinator. Lindsey faced the tough task of replacing Neal Brown, who notched three consecutive seasons of 10 wins or more and got the Trojans ranked briefly in 2016 for the first time in program history.
“I appreciate Coach Lindsey’s hard work over these last three years,” Troy athletic director Brent Jones said. “However, after significant review, a change in leadership is needed. I met with coach Lindsey this afternoon and informed him that we would be making a change effective immediately. Our expectation for our football program is to compete for championships, and that resolve has not wavered. A full national search will begin immediately for the next head coach of our storied program.”
Defensive coordinator Brandon Hall will serve as Troy’s interim coach, Jones announced. The Trojans lost 45-7 at home to Appalachian State on Saturday, falling to 5-6 and setting up a regular season finale with Georgia State that will determine whether or not the program becomes bowl eligible for the first time since Brown’s tenure.
Troy is the second job to open in the Sun Belt this season, with Georgia Southern having already fired Chad Lunsford and hired former USC coach Clay Helton. There could be more movement within the conference in the coming weeks as Louisiana coach Billy Napier and Coast Carolina coach Jamey Chadwell remain hot names on a busy coaching carousel.
Lindsey, 47, was a first-time college head coach but had been the offensive coordinator at Southern Miss and Arizona State in addition to his stint at Auburn when he took the Troy job.
“Ultimately, we fell short of our goal of producing a championship-winning team,” Lindsey said. “I am grateful to the administration at Troy for giving me this opportunity to serve as head coach. Thank you to our players for giving their all, day in and day out. I am proud to have been your coach, and I am grateful for the relationships we forged that will last a lifetime. Finally, I would like to thank my family for their unwavering love and support.”
