Audio from interview with GoLeopards.com
- Head Coach Frank Tavani
- Assistant Football Coach John Troxell
March 21, 2001
EASTON, Pa (www.lafayette.edu) - John Troxell '94, the starting free safety on Lafayette's 1992 Patriot League championship team, has been named an assistant football coach at the College. Most recently the offensive coordinator at Muhlenberg College, Troxell served as an assistant on the Columbia University staff for three seasons.
The hiring of Troxell, who will coach the Leopards' running backs, completes head coach Frank Tavani's full-time staff for the 2001 season. It also finishes a minor realignment of Lafayette's football coaching staff, as defensive coordinator John Loose will now coach the Leopards' defensive backs, Matt Hachmann will coach the linebackers and Bob Heffner, who recently joined the staff from Maryland as Lafayette's assistant head coach, will coach the offensive line. Offensive coordinator Mike Faragalli will continue to coach the quarterbacks and receivers, and Chris Taylor will coach the defensive line again this season. Part-time assistants Kevin Keating and Gary Talijan will continue to work with the Leopards' offense and strength programs, respectively.
"We are really excited to have John Troxell return to the Lafayette football program as its newest assistant coach," said Eve Atkinson, Lafayette's director of athletics. "The fact that John played on a Patriot League championship team here at Lafayette and coached an ECAC championship team at Muhlenberg should tell everyone that he knows what it takes to be successful."
"I am proud to welcome John Troxell back to the Lafayette football family," said Tavani. "John is a quality individual who had an outstanding career at Lafayette. He has done a terrific job establishing himself in the coaching ranks at both Columbia and at Muhlenberg, and we look forward to him continuing that here at Lafayette."
Troxell served as an assistant coach at Muhlenberg for the past four seasons, contributing to a turnaround that saw the Mules go from a 1-9 mark in his first season to a 9-2 record and ECAC Southwest championship in 2000. He served as offensive coordinator last fall, when the Mules set a school record by scoring 30 or more points seven times and tied another mark with four 40-point games. They ranked 22nd in Division III and led the Centennial Conference in total offense (427.8 yards per game).
"I am real excited to be back at Lafayette," said Troxell. "I have a lot of great memories from being here on a championship team and I looking forward to helping Coach Tavani bring the program back to championship caliber."
In his first three seasons at Muhlenberg, Troxell coordinated the Mules' special teams. Under his guidance, Muhlenberg had one of the top units in Division III in 1999, leading the country in kickoff returns and ranking 22nd nationally in net punting. One of his student-athletes was named to numerous All-America teams and was the Football Gazette specialist of the year.
Troxell also coached the quarterbacks and receivers all four seasons, including Muhlenberg's all-time leading passer and the program's first Centennial Conference player of the year.
Additionally, Troxell was an assistant coach for sprinters and jumpers with the Muhlenberg track and field program, during which time he coached the 1999 and 2000 Centennial Conference women's indoor and outdoor high jump champion.
Troxell joined the Muhlenberg staff after serving as an assistant coach for three seasons at Columbia University. He assisted with the Lions' defensive backs from 1994-96, helping them record the third-best pass defense in Division I-AA in 1996. The assistant recruiting coordinator his final two seasons at Columbia, Troxell was the junior varsity head coach and defensive coordinator in 1996 and was elevated to running backs coach in the spring of 1997.
A 1994 Lafayette graduate with a bachelor of arts degree in Government and Law, Troxell was the starting free safety on the Leopards' 1992 Patriot League championship team and received the program's Unsung Hero Award as a senior. Troxell went on to earn a master of arts degree in Sociology and Education from Columbia in 1997.
Troxell, a native of Phillipsburg, N.J. who is engaged to be married on June 8, 2001 to Pamela Sheridan, resides in Lansdale, Pa.
THE TROXEL FILE
EDUCATION
- Lafayette College, Bachelor of Arts Degree in Government and Law, 1994.
- Columbia University, Master of Arts Degree in Sociology and Education, 1997.
COACHING EXPERIENCE
- Muhlenberg College, assistant football coach, 1997-2000 -- offensive coordinator (2000), recruiting coordinator (1997-2000), quarterbacks and receivers coach (1997-2000), special teams coordinator (1997-1999)
- Columbia University, assistant football coach, 1994-1997, assistant recruiting coordinator, 1995-1997 -- assistant defensive backs coach (1994-1996), junior varsity head coach and defensive coordinator (1996), running backs coach (spring 1997)
PERSONAL
- Born July 25, 1972
- Native of Phillipsburg, N.J.
