Troy names Ryan Pugh new offensive coordinator
Published 4:18 pm Monday, January 14, 2019
Troy head football coach Chip Lindsey took to the podium on Friday for his introductory press conference, where he announced that the hiring process would begin quickly.
On Monday afternoon, Lindsey made his first official hire, announcing Ryan Pugh as the new offensive coordinator for the Trojans.
“I’m excited to be back home in the state of Alabama and to have the opportunity to work with coach (Chip) Lindsey,” Pugh said. “You cannot help but be excited when you have a great offensive mind in coach Lindsey as the head coach of a tradition-rich program like Troy. I’m honored and thankful to be at Troy and look forward to pushing these young men and this program to the top of the Group of Five.”
Pugh comes to Troy after spending one season as an offensive line coach at BYU. Pugh also has coaching stints at LSU, Cincinnati, Virginia Tech, Auburn and UT-San Antonio.
“Ryan is one of the top young coaches in this profession and has a great rapport with his players,” Lindsey said. “He was an All-American and team captain as a four-year starter at Auburn, and his transition into the coaching profession has been seamless. I know firsthand the type of leader that Ryan is from coaching with him, and I am excited to have him on our staff and working with our student-athletes.”
Last year, his first year at BYU, the Cougars increased their scoring output by more than 10 points per game. Cougar center James Empey was named to the Football Writers Association of American Freshman All-American team.
Pugh started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Auburn. Pugh then landed in Cincinnati in 2014 as a graduate assistant. In 2015, Pugh returned to the Southeastern Conference with LSU.
Pugh will replace former offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Matt Moore, who accepted the same position at West Virginia last week.
Lindsey has more hires to make after it was announced on Monday that Troy defensive line coach Jordan Lesley also accepted a position a West Virginia, following Moore and defensive coordinator Vic Koenning.