Troy fires head coach Chip Lindsey
Troy University fired head coach Chip Lindsey on Sunday.
The school confirmed the firing, which was initially reported by Yahoo Sports, in a statement from athletic director Brent Jones, who said:
"I appreciate Coach Lindsey's hard work over these last three years. 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."
Troy AD Brent Jones pic.twitter.com/96A9wduAPl
— Troy Trojans Football (@TroyTrojansFB) November 21, 2021
Lindsey is 15-19 in three seasons at Troy, who got blown out at home by Appalachian State, 45-7, on Saturday to fall to 5-6.
Lindsey failed to make a bowl in his first two seasons at the school, and departs before Troy has a chance to get bowl eligible with a potential sixth win at Georgia State on Saturday. Lindsey came to Troy from Auburn, where he was the offensive coordinator.
Defensive coordinator Brandon Hall will finish the season as Troy's interim head coach.
The decision came down to Troy’s declining standing within the Sun Belt. Troy lost to all three of the Sun Belt’s top teams — Coastal Carolina, Louisiana and App State — by an average of nearly 20 points.
Lindsey came to Troy with a reputation as a strong offensive tactician, but Troy ranked last in league play in yards per game (348.4) and second-to-last in scoring (22.1).
Lindsey succeeded Neal Brown, who won twice as many games over the previous three-year span (31-8). That run included road wins over Nebraska and LSU, along with three bowl wins.
The school will be looking to recapture some of that success with a new hire. Troy has won or shared six Sun Belt football titles since 2006.
The move also reverberates as a sign of the increased competition in the Sun Belt, which has emerged the past few seasons as a rising football league. The competition only adds to the motivation for schools not to fall behind, as traditionally strong programs including Marshall and Southern Miss recently announced they’d be joining the league.
The winning and output didn’t match Troy’s investment, as the Trojans recently completed a $28 million end-zone complex that’s among the best in the Group of Five. Troy’s commitment to head-coaching salary and staff pool will project as top 3 in the conference.
Lindsey will leave with one year remaining on his contract.
