Troy University Athletics
Troy Names Cole Popovich Offensive Line Coach
1/19/2022 8:37:00 AM | Football
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TROY, Ala. – Veteran NFL coach Cole Popovich is Troy's new offensive line coach, Troy head coach Jon Sumrall announced Wednesday. Popovich won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots, where he coached for six years, including the 2020 season as the co-offensive line coach.
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"Cole is one of the most respected offensive line coaches in the country, and he is going to be a tremendous addition to our football program," Sumrall. "He will bring a new level of intensity to our offensive line room and is as good of a technical and tactical offensive line coach as there is in the country. His NFL experience is going to be an invaluable tool for our players not only during their time at Troy but also as they prepare for a future in football."
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Popovich joined the Patriots midway through the 2015 season as a coaching assistant and transitioned to the assistant running backs coach in 2019 before moving to co-offensive line coach for the 2020 season. New England captured a pair of Super Bowl titles during his tenure with the Patriots winning Super Bowl LI (2016) and Super Bowl LIII (2018).
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"Cole is a smart, hardworking coach who was a great asset to our staff," New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said. "I appreciate Cole for his many contributions, including two championship seasons, and wish him and his family all the best in the future."
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He spent the 2021 season coaching the offensive line at Franklin (Mass.) High School, where he led an offensive line that averaged just 214 pounds to a league title, a 10-1 overall record and No. 3 ranking in the state by Max Preps. The Panthers' offensive line paved the way for a Franklin running back to rush for 1,647 yards and 12 touchdowns in 10 games.
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"I'm excited to be at Troy and excited to be in the South," Popovich said. "We've got a lot of work to do but I look forward to working and connecting each day with the young men in the offensive line room as we build a unit that is going to compete each and every snap. The foundation is strong with the group of players we have, but it will require hard work and dedication from each of them every day to improve."
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Popovich was the offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator at Minot State for two seasons before joining the Patriots' staff. He spent one season as a graduate assistant at Utah State, following stops at Fresno City College and LA Valley College to begin his coaching career.
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He had an outstanding collegiate career at Fresno State, earning Freshman All-American honors in 2004 from ESPN, Sporting News, Football Writers Association of American and College Football News. Popovich was a four-year starter on the offensive line, helping lead the Bulldogs to bowl games all four seasons. In 2007, he earned the Paul Schechter Courage Award, given to the one athlete who has overcome obstacles to return to the playing field.
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Popovich and his wife, Jessica, have two sons, Colton and Coen.Â
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TROY, Ala. – Veteran NFL coach Cole Popovich is Troy's new offensive line coach, Troy head coach Jon Sumrall announced Wednesday. Popovich won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots, where he coached for six years, including the 2020 season as the co-offensive line coach.
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"Cole is one of the most respected offensive line coaches in the country, and he is going to be a tremendous addition to our football program," Sumrall. "He will bring a new level of intensity to our offensive line room and is as good of a technical and tactical offensive line coach as there is in the country. His NFL experience is going to be an invaluable tool for our players not only during their time at Troy but also as they prepare for a future in football."
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Popovich joined the Patriots midway through the 2015 season as a coaching assistant and transitioned to the assistant running backs coach in 2019 before moving to co-offensive line coach for the 2020 season. New England captured a pair of Super Bowl titles during his tenure with the Patriots winning Super Bowl LI (2016) and Super Bowl LIII (2018).
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"Cole is a smart, hardworking coach who was a great asset to our staff," New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said. "I appreciate Cole for his many contributions, including two championship seasons, and wish him and his family all the best in the future."
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He spent the 2021 season coaching the offensive line at Franklin (Mass.) High School, where he led an offensive line that averaged just 214 pounds to a league title, a 10-1 overall record and No. 3 ranking in the state by Max Preps. The Panthers' offensive line paved the way for a Franklin running back to rush for 1,647 yards and 12 touchdowns in 10 games.
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"I'm excited to be at Troy and excited to be in the South," Popovich said. "We've got a lot of work to do but I look forward to working and connecting each day with the young men in the offensive line room as we build a unit that is going to compete each and every snap. The foundation is strong with the group of players we have, but it will require hard work and dedication from each of them every day to improve."
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Popovich was the offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator at Minot State for two seasons before joining the Patriots' staff. He spent one season as a graduate assistant at Utah State, following stops at Fresno City College and LA Valley College to begin his coaching career.
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He had an outstanding collegiate career at Fresno State, earning Freshman All-American honors in 2004 from ESPN, Sporting News, Football Writers Association of American and College Football News. Popovich was a four-year starter on the offensive line, helping lead the Bulldogs to bowl games all four seasons. In 2007, he earned the Paul Schechter Courage Award, given to the one athlete who has overcome obstacles to return to the playing field.
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Popovich and his wife, Jessica, have two sons, Colton and Coen.Â
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