Adam Austin named next Offensive Coordinator at Troy
Troy Football head coach Gerad Parker announced the addition of Adam Austin to the Troy staff as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach after Austin was the architect of the highest-scoring offense in the FCS ranks this past season.
Austin just completed his second season as the offensive coordinator at Tarleton State, where the Texans led the FCS, averaging 42.4 points per game, while ranking ninth in total offense (457.6), 16th in passing yards (263.6) and 18th in rushing (193.9). In his two seasons calling plays, Tarleton averaged 36.6 points and 436.7 yards per game.
“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Adam and Aubri to the Troy Football Family,” Parker said. “He is an experienced offensive play caller at multiple levels of collegiate football, where there has been one constant – success. Adam is coming off back-to-back seasons at Tarleton State, where the program was elevated to new heights behind his explosive offense. He is a great football coach and, more importantly, a great man.”
Tarleton finished the 2025 season as the top-scoring team at the FCS level and second-ranked scoring team across all Division I football, averaging 42.4 points per game. The Texans topped the 50-point mark five times during the season, including a stretch of four straight games. Additionally, Tarleton defeated Army during the second week of the season; the Black Knights defeated Kansas State the following week and won the Fenway Bowl at the end of the season.
“I am thrilled to join the Troy University football family and contribute to a program with such a storied legacy,” Austin said. “The decision to come to Troy was an easy one and there were several things that aligned perfectly with my passion for helping build championship-caliber teams.
“First and foremost, I was drawn to the visionary leadership of Gerad Parker, whose forward-thinking approach to the game emphasizes innovation, player development and a relentless pursuit of excellence both on and off the field. His vision for Troy Football is to create a dynamic, explosive, high scoring offense that competes at the highest levels of the FBS, while fostering a culture of accountability and growth. I’m eager to collaborate with him to elevate this program to new heights.
“Additionally, the unwavering support from the administration at Troy University played a pivotal role in my decision. Their commitment to providing the resources, facilities and backing necessary for success is evident. They understand what it takes to win in today’s competitive landscape, and their investment in the football program ensures we have what we need to recruit top talent and perform at an elite level. The Trojans have a tradition of excellence and a reputation for toughness and resilience, and I can’t wait to add to that legacy and help bring more hardware back to Troy.”
The Texans finished the 2025 season tying a program record with 12 wins, earning the No. 4 seed in the FCS Playoffs and winning a United Athletic Conference regular season title. Tarleton became the first program since Troy in 1993 to make the quarterfinals of the FCS Playoffs in its first two years of playoff eligibility.
Austin coached a trio of All-Americans on the offensive side of the football in 2025, in linemen Braden Smith and Hunter Smith and running back Tre Page. Page was a finalist for the 2025 Jerry Rice Award, which honors the top freshman at the FCS level after he rushed for 104.9 yards per game and 7.5 yards per carry.
The Tarleton offense was efficient, averaging 15.57 yards per completion, second best in the country, and the Texans turned the ball over just nine times, the fifth fewest in the country. Victor Gabalis ranked eighth nationally with a 163.7 passing efficiency, while the Texans boasted a 1,000-yard receiver and four players with 450-yard or better rushing seasons.
Austin’s first season as offensive coordinator was a precursor for his second as the Texans burst onto the FCS scene.
Tarleton finished the 2024 season 10-4 overall and became the fifth team in the history of the FCS Playoffs (Division I-AA Playoffs), which goes back 46 years, to win their first playoff game at the FCS level in their first year eligible after reclassifying from NCAA Division II after defeating Drake in the opening round; the Texans were the first team to make the FCS Playoffs in their first year following reclassification since South Dakota State in 2009.
The Texans finished the season ranked No. 12 in the final AFCA FCS Coaches Poll were ranked in both major FCS polls each week of the 2024 campaign, one of just 11 teams to do so.
Austin’s offense ranked fourth in the country in pass yards per completion (14.5), fifth in red zone offense (.933), ninth in first downs (300), tied-13th in sacks allowed per game (1.14), 22nd in total offense (415.8 yards per game), 23rd in rushing offense (191.1 yards per game), 28th in scoring offense (30.7 points per game), 34th in tackles for loss allowed per game (4.71) and 42nd in passing offense (224.7 yards per game).
Tarleton had the nation’s top rusher in Kayvon Britten (1,982 yards) and the top receiver in the country in Darius Cooper (1,450 yards). The duo collected a combined nine All-American honors, including both earning Associated Press FCS All-America First Team honors.
He served as the Texans’ quarterbacks coach for four seasons prior to assuming the OC duties in 2024. In his first two seasons at Tarleton, Texan quarterbacks produced seven 300-plus yard performances, including a conference-high five in 2022. The Texans finished third in the WAC with 24 passing touchdowns, throwing for 2,883 yards across 11 games, averaging 262.1 passing yards per contest.
In 2023, under Austin’s guidance, the Texans averaged 33.3 points per game, the second most in the UAC and 13th nationally. They also averaged 430.5 yards per game (second in the UAC, 14th in the FCS) with 6.4 yards per play (most in the UAC, 11th in the FCS).
In 2022, Tarleton’s passing attack was a significant factor in the Texans’ posting a winning record. Austin mentored 2022 WAC Newcomer of the Year Beau Allen, who threw for 2,836 yards, 23 touchdowns and 257.8 passing yards per game. Allen led the WAC with 23 passing touchdowns as well as 300+ passing yard games with five.
Austin played quarterback at Arizona in 2005-06, where he led the Wildcats to wins over Stephen F. Austin and Stanford as a senior starter and helped Arizona become bowl eligible for the first time in eight years.
Following his playing career, Austin spent three years as a graduate assistant coaching tight ends, quarterbacks and wide receivers for a season at Grambling State, where he won a SWAC Championship, and two seasons at Marshall.
Austin landed his first full-time role as the quarterbacks coach at Midwestern State in 2011, where he won back-to-back league titles and was part of the top-scoring offense in NCAA Division II. He was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2013 – a title he would keep for six seasons with the Mustangs.
In 2017, the Mustangs had one of the top offenses in the nation. Midwestern State ranked eighth in the country (42.5 points per game) and 11th in total offense (483.3 yards per game). Austin was an NCAA Division II Coordinator of the Year finalist after the 2017 season. The following year, the Mustangs ranked eighth nationally in total offense (506.2 yards per game) and 11th in scoring (41.8 points per game).
He spent one season at Eastern Kentucky in 2019 as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach before leaving for Garden City Community College in 2020; Austin never coached a game for GCCC because the COVID-19 pandemic canceled games that fall. He transitioned to Missouri Southern State in February of 2021 and coached one spring game – a 21-20 win against Southern Nazarene – before making the move back to Tarleton.
A native of Mundelein, Illinois, Austin graduated from Arizona in 2007 with a degree in interdisciplinary studies. He earned a master’s degree in adult and technical education from Marshall in 2010. He is married to the former Aubri Billman.
(Press Release from Troy Athletics)
