Al Pogue - Football Coach - Troy University Athletics

Al Pogue

Title:
Cornerbacks
Email:
jmorgan@Troy.edu
Phone:
3682

Al Pogue, who spent five years as a Troy assistant from 2014-18, returns to the Trojans’ coaching staff following stops at Auburn and West Virginia. Pogue, who will coach the Troy cornerbacks, is the only Trojan assistant to coach with Troy’s last three head coaches – Larry Blakeney, Neal Brown and Chip Lindsey.

During a three-year window from 2016-18, Pogue helped a Troy defense allow just 20.8 points per game, ranking fourth nationally among Group of 5 Five Conference schools. During his final four years, the Trojans were second nationally among FBS schools in takeaways (106) and tied for seventh nationally with 63 interceptions.

In 2018, Troy’s defense gave up 22.0 points per game, ranking 28^th nationally and third nationally in turnovers gained (31), fifth in interceptions (18) and fumbles recovered (13), and 11^th in turnover margin (0.77). Troy also led the Sun Belt Conference in sacks, interceptions, turnovers, red zone defense and finished second in rushing defense, total defense and third in scoring defense.

The Trojans led the nation in red zone defense in 2017 as the Trojans set a school record for wins, won the Sun Belt Championship and ended LSU’s 49-game non-conference home winning streak. Troy was third in tackles for loss (8.6), seventh in sacks (3.23) and rushing defense (105.7). The Trojans ranked fifth nationally in interceptions (17), sixth in turnovers gained (26) and 26th in turnover margin (0.54). Pogue mentored Marcus Jones who earned Sun Belt Freshman of the Year honors and All-America distinction

The 2016 Trojans posted a 10-3 record and earned a victory in the Dollar General Bowl, the first top-25 ranking in school and conference history and tied for the best win-improvement in the country.

Troy finished second nationally in passes intercepted, fourth in turnovers forced, ninth in passes defended per game (5.9), 17^th in rushing defense, 21^st in scoring defense (22.1) and 28^th in third-down defense.

The 2015 defense finished with the second-best turnaround nationally in opponent third-down percentage, fourth-best turnaround in yards per play allowed, fifth-best improvement in tackles for loss and 16^th-best improvement in total defense.

Troy scored five defensive touchdowns, third-most in the country and most by a Trojan team since 2004 and finished fifth in the nation with 13 fumble recoveries. Troy forced 16 turnovers over the final six games of the season after registering just three in the first six games.

In 2014, the Trojans finished with 11 interceptions, most by a Troy team since 2010 and improved its pass defense by 105.7 yards per game from the previous season.

In his second stint at Auburn, Pogue coached the Tigers’ outside linebackers during the 2020 season. Under his guidance, Zakoby McClain tied with Troy’s Carlton Martial as the nation’s top tackler with 113 for the season.

Pogue joined Brown’s first staff at West Virginia in 2019 and coached the outside linebackers. Josh Chandler earned All-Big 12 honors in his lone season working with Pogue and Tykee Smith was named to the FWAA Freshman All-America Team.

Prior to his first stint at Troy, Pogue spent three years at Auburn as the offensive quality control coach (2011), special teams quality control coach (2012) and director of high school relations (2013).

While Pogue was with the Tigers the first time, Auburn played in the 2013 BCS National Championship game, won the 2013 SEC Championship and won the 2011 Chick-fil-A Bowl.

Pogue spent six years as a high school head coach at Carver High School in Montgomery, Alabama, from 2008-10, St. Jude High School in Montgomery from 2006-07 and at Calhoun High School in Montgomery in 2002. He oversaw Carver’s first undefeated season in 2008.

Pogue was a three-year starter as a safety and cornerback at Alabama State from 1993-96, earning All-America and All-SWAC honors at free safety.

A native of Mobile, Alabama, Pogue earned his bachelor’s degree in special education from Alabama State in 1998. He, and his wife, Nikita, also an Alabama State alum, have two children, Allison and Nasir.