Troy head coach Larry Blakeney will retire following the conclusion of the season, the university announced Sunday night. Blakeney, who’s in his 24th season with the Trojans, informed his coaching staff and players following the team’s practice on Sunday.
Legendary Troy head coach Larry Blakeney retiring after season
The second-longest tenured coach in college football is retiring after this season.
Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Blakeney is the second-longest tenured coach in college football, trailing only Virginia Tech’s Frank Beamer. The Troy head coach began coaching the Trojans in 1991 and ranks seventh among active coaches with 175 career victories (he currently holds a 175-109-1 record), a total that’s also one shy of former Auburn coach Shug Jordan for third-most wins by a coach in the state of Alabama.
Blakeney led the Trojans to five bowl games, and also became only the second coach to take a program from Division II play to the FBS. Troy moved up to Division I-AA in 2001 and later joined the FBS’ Sun Belt Conference in 2004.
Troy is off to an 0-5 start this season, but poor results in his final season won’t bear much impact on Blakeney’s legacy at the university. The Trojans’ field sports his name (Larry Blakeney Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium) and he is also a member of the Alabama Sports and Troy University Sports of Halls of Fame.
The Trojans will hold a press conference at 11 a.m. ET with Blakeney and athletic director John Hartwell.
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