When Chip Lindsey took over as head coach for the Lassiter Trojans in 2008, he inherited a program with an embarrassing football history. In 26 years, Lassiter had never won a state playoff game, never won a region title, and had never won nine games in a season. Lassiter alumnae playing at the college level were few and far between. In a mere two seasons, though, Lindsey completely transformed the program into a state power. During his brief tenure, Lindsey led the Trojans to a 21-4 record, three state playoff victories, and their first ever undefeated regular season, culminating in the school’s first region title in 2009. Lindsey’s tenure was brief because news came this weekend that he will be leaving the program he’s built to become the quarterbacks coach at Troy University.
Lassiter was coming off back-to-back 3-7 seasons under former coach Greg Dirst when Lindsey took over the reigns in 2008, coming from Hoover High School in Alabama, where he was offensive coordinator. Lindsey quickly changed the culture at Lassiter and did so dramatically. He installed a highflying spread offense, designed to throw the ball sometimes upwards of 50 times a game. This was a stark contrast to the run-based veer offense Lassiter had been running. Lindsey successfully initiated Lassiter’s 7 on 7 passing camp in the summer, where first-rate competition greatly benefitted his team. He polished individual talent into division one prospects, and a year ago sent two seniors to high level programs- tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen signed with Auburn and center Camden Wentz with North Carolina State. Both players contributed as freshmen at their respective schools. “Coach Lindsey taught us how to win, how to be a better team and better as individuals. He was a huge reason why I had the success I did,” Lutzenkirchen said of his former coach. This year, Lindsey turned quarterback Hutson Mason from a virtually unknown name into one of the state’s top prospects. Mason put up insane numbers his senior year, throwing for 4,582 yards and 57 touchdowns, both all-class state records. Mason received offers from Georgia, Florida State, Mississippi State, Cincinnati, Virginia, and others, before signing with the Georgia Bulldogs.
Lindsey’s future looks bright. He’s young (just 35 years old) and hungry, two assets that usually lead to great success in any job. Lindsey’s dream is to one day be a Division 1 head coach. Lindsey has a bright offensive mind and will add a new element to a Troy program that has already been successful with its own spread offense over the last several years. While it will be tough for Lindsey to walk away from a good job at Lassiter, he’s excited about his new job at Troy, saying, “It is a great opportunity for my family and me. It’s not often a high school coach gets this kind of offer and I had to take it.”
As for Lassiter, it will certainly be difficult to replace the most successful coach in the school’s history. The Trojans had never seen anything like the kind of success Lindsey brought in two seasons. Nonetheless, Lassiter does have some young talent on the team, including running back Tyren Jones, and quarterback Eddie Printz, the talented sophomore who is slated to be Mason’s successor. The cupboard is hardly bare to whomever principal Chris Shaw hands the keys, and Lassiter has some of the best facilities and parental support in the metro area.
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