Troy coach Larry Blakeney to retire after season

TROY, Ala. (AP) Longtime Troy coach Larry Blakeney is retiring after the season.

Troy announced the decision Sunday night with the Trojans off to their first 0-5 start since the 1982 season. Blakeney informed his staff and team after Sunday's practice.

The 67-year-old Blakeney is in his 24th season with the Trojans, the second longest tenure among active coaches behind Virginia Tech's Frank Beamer.

Blakeney and athletic director John Hartwell will hold a news conference Monday to discuss the decision. Troy is coming off an open date and hosts New Mexico State on Saturday.

Blakeney currently ranks seventh among active coaches with 175 career victories, which is one shy of former Auburn coach Shug Jordan for the third most in the state of Alabama. He's a two-time Sun Belt Conference coach of the year who led the Trojans to at least a share of five consecutive league titles.

Troy has gone 14-27 since that streak ended in 2010.

The Trojans have fallen 66-0 to No. 13 Georgia and lost to FCS team Abilene Christian, which hadn't beaten an FBS-level team since 1959.

Blakeney makes $505,000 annually and his contract runs through next season. The former Auburn quarterback and assistant coach has presided over Troy's rise from Division II to FCS and finally to college football's highest level in 2001. It has pulled off upsets against Mississippi State, Missouri and Oklahoma State along the way.