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Troy to hire Tulane co-defensive coordinator Jon Sumrall

Tulane co-defensive coordinator Jon Sumrall will join Troy coach Neal Brown’s defensive staff, according to a source.

The official announcement of Sumrall’s hiring is expected later and his role has not yet been finalized, per the source.

Sumrall, 31, spent the last three seasons with the Green Wave and is viewed as an up-and-comer in coaching circles. He was Tulane’s co-defensive coordinator each of those years, overseeing the defensive line for the first two campaigns before moving to linebackers this season.

Sumrall was instrumental in Tulane’s bowl appearance last season, its first since 2002, as the Green Wave defense ranked in the FBS’ top 25 in several categories, including 13th in sacks per game (2.92).

• Complete 2014-15 bowl schedule, matchups

Prior to Tulane, Sumrall was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at San Diego for two seasons under now-San Jose State coach Ron Caragher. From 2007-09, Sumrall was the Toreros’ defensive line coach, recruiting coordinator and camp coordinator.

Sumrall got his start in coaching as a defensive graduate assistant at his alma mater, Kentucky, from 2005-06. The Huntsville, Ala. native was a middle linebacker for the Wildcats from 2002-04.

He joins Brown in trying to revamp a Troy program that hasn’t had a winning season since 2010. The Trojans went 3-9 last season under Larry Blakeney, who announced his retirement in October.

The 34-year-old Brown was introduced as Troy’s new coach Monday. He is the second-youngest head coach in the FBS, behind Western Michigan’s P.J. Fleck, and was previously Kentucky’s offensive coordinator for two seasons.