Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

There is a new sheriff in town to run the Troup High soccer and cross country programs. Mike Townson is already hard at work at Troup High as the new assistant athletic director and has big plans heading into his first year with the Tigers.

“My three years at Trinity Christian were fantastic,” Townson said. “It was my first time in private schools, but I loved it. I knew that at some point, I wanted to get into administration. (Athletic Director Kevin) Hobbs is one of my best friends, and he kept saying we could build something here and really sold me on his vision.”

“I came here to help with the wrestling state championship earlier this year and was blown away by the facilities and people, so when Hobbs offered me the job, it felt like the right time to make the move,” he added. 

The decision to leave Trinity Christian and come to Troup was anything but easy. Townson’s son AJ is one of the top goalkeepers in the state and is heading into his senior season with the Lions.

“When we sat down and talked as a family, he told me to jump on it,” Townson said. “He told me that they would be fine at Trinity and encouraged me to come here.

“It was a tough decision, but it was the right one for my family.”

Townson comes to the Tigers with a wealth of coaching experience. He comes to Troup from Trinity Christian, where he rebuilt the boys soccer program. The Lions had their best season ever in 2025, going 12-7 and winning their first-ever playoff game.

“I have nothing but good things to say about my time at Trinity,” Townson said. “Getting to win a playoff game with my son is something I will carry with me for the rest of my life.”

Before rebuilding the Trinity Christian soccer program, Townson worked his magic at Central Carrollton, rebuilding that program before making the jump to Trinity Christian.

Townson will have his work cut out for him in rebuilding the Troup soccer program. This will be the boys and girls fourth different coach in the past five seasons. Some continuity will help the Tigers rebuild.

“I’m telling the parents and kids that this will be a three-year process,” Townson said. “First year is about buying into my philosophy and making it fun for them again. Year two is about teaching them how to win and lose and by year three, hopefully, we are winning consistently.”

Both the Troup boys and girls teams are coming off one of their worst seasons in recent memory. The boys went 6-10 in 2025 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2019.

“Troup beat Trinity Christian with some special players two years ago when I was coaching there, so I know how good this team can be,” Townson said. “I think the team played a bit too rigidly in the past. We are going to play free and a bit more wide open. They’ve been kind of robotic the last couple of years, but the talent is there to play a more open style.”

The Troup girls team went winless in the 2025 season and has not made the playoffs since 2022.

“We have to get some athletes out,” Townson said. “I’d tell them that they have an opportunity to take their God given skills, whether they’re a good basketball player, they’re good at track, or a state championship wrestler, they can bring that winning mindset and just the culture of winning to the soccer team so we can be successful too. I think we have the girls walking the halls to do that.”

Townson made the bold claim that he expects the girls to not only win a game next season, but has set the goal for seven wins for the team. 

While much of his focus will be on the soccer program, Townson will also be taking on administrative duties as the assistant athletic director. Townson will be helping oversee other athletic programs at Troup High, and joins the school when the athletic program is in a healthy spot. 

“I really want to thank Principal (Chet) Stewart and the administration here for taking a chance on me,” he said. “I think they will see that I work just as hard for the other sports as I do for soccer. I’m really excited to be here.”