Jon Sumrall Leads Troy to Sun Belt Championship in Debut Season

In the final home game of Jon Sumrall’s first season as a head football coach, the goalposts came down. Hosting Coastal Carolina in the Sun Belt Championship Game, the Trojans sprinted out to an early lead and never looked back. Troy put a 45-26 whooping on the Chanticleers, fans stormed the field at Veterans Memorial Stadium and took home a souvenir.

Troy opened its second drive of the game with a one-play scoring drive. Gunnar Watson connected with Deshon Stoudemire for a 65-yard touchdown, setting the tone for the rest of the night. It wasn’t even the most impressive touchdown catch in the route. RaJae’ Johnson only needed one hand for this 36-yard score.

Jon Sumrall could not have asked for a much better start to his head coaching career. A linebacker for Rich Brooks at Kentucky, he started his coaching career as a GA in Lexington and returned to coach linebackers from 2019-21. This year he was named Sun Belt Coach of the Year. Troy went 11-2, with their only losses coming off a Hail Mary against Appalachian State and at Ole Miss. He’s bringing the Trojans back to the postseason for the first time since Neal Brown was in charge and now has a Sun Belt Title, the program’s seventh.

Jon Sumrall is a rising star in the coaching ranks. Take notice, BBN.