Troy Abbs was named head coach of the Trine football program on Jan. 13, 2015 and became the fourth head coach in the program’s history. In his tenth season he became the winningest coach in program history. He enters his eleventh season with a record of 67-31, His .683 winning percentage is the program best.
The 2023 and 2024 seasons were marked by strong offensive efforts. In 2023, multiple records fell to the throwing arm of Alex Price, now first or second in most individual season or career record and holder of the two best games by yardage. The team finished 6-4 overall and 4-2 in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MIAA). 2024 saw the team rely on a strong running game on the way to another 6-4 record, while going 4-3 in MIAA play.
In 2022, the Thunder finished in a three-way tie for third in the MIAA standings going 3-3 in conference play. Overall they posted a 7-3 record, starting the season with four wins. The team allowed just 21 points per game while scoring an average of 30 on 375 yards. Keysean Amison highlighted the season earning MIAA defensive Most Valuable Player before taking home three All-American awards, just the third player in program history to do so.
Abbs led the team to a 6-4 overall record in 2021, before going 4-2 in MIAA play to finish in third in the leagues standings. The team placed five members on First Team All-MIAA with five more reaching Second Team. Justin White earned the Pete-Schmidt Scholar-Athlete Award becoming the second player in Abbs' tenure to do so. The award is the conference’s highest scholar-athlete honor for football.
In 2020, the Thunder faced an untraditional season while playing a limited number of games where they finished 4-1 overall and 2-1 in the MIAA. Eleven members of the team capped the season by earning All-MIAA Awards.
The 2019 season saw Trine’s defense rank 34th in NCAA Division III allowing 294.3 yards per game. The Thunder ranked in the top-20 in fewest passing yards allowed per game at 156.6 to rank 16th overall. In the MIAA, Trine’s defense took top honors in fewest yards allowed and led the conference in sacks (30). Offensively, the Thunder averaged 188.6 rushing yards to rank 51st nationally and fifth in the conference. In addition, Trine ranked high on special teams in kickoff return average at 24.58 yards per return, which finished as the ninth best in Division III. Five players were named All-MIAA at the end of the season with one first-team selection and four second-team picks.
Trine ended the 2018 season with its second-straight undefeated regular season (10-0) and back-to-back MIAA Championships (fifth title overall in school history). The Thunder concluded the 2018 campaign with a 10-1 overall record and a repeat trip to the NCAA Division III Tournament. Nationally, Trine ranked fourth in rushing offense (304.8 yards per game), 13th in scoring (42.6 points per game) and 42nd in total offense (434.4 ypg.). Defensively, the Thunder ranked 11th in passing yards allowed (147.5 ypg.) and was sixth in punt return average (18.9 yards per return) and 12th in kick return average (24.1 ypr.). At the end of the season, 14 All-MIAA Awards were handed out as well as four players named All-region, and three players garnered multiple All-American honors. The Thunder also swept both the conference special awards with the Offensive and Defensive “Players of the Year.” In addition, Trine had a finalist for both the Gagliardi Trophy and Cliff Harris Award. Off the field, Trine was recognized for its success in the classroom with three players earning Academic All-Region status with two of those players going on to All-American recognition.
In 2017, Abbs led Trine to an undefeated regular season on its way to capturing the MIAA Championship. The Thunder also made an appearance in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the second round, finishing with an overall record of 11-1. A total of 15 All-MIAA Awards were handed out at the end of the season, including both the MIAA Offensive and Defensive “MVPs.” Five players went on to earn All-Region accolades as well as one All-American. Quarterback Evan Wyse was selected as a finalist for the Gagliardi Trophy and cornerback Marcus Winters was a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award. Abbs also earned national recognition as the Division III Region 4 “Coach of the Year” by the AFCA. Abbs’ team led the nation in turnovers gained (37), was third in turnover margin (1.5), tied for sixth in defensive interceptions (23), fourth in rushing (329.6 yards per game) and recorded numerous school records. In addition, the Thunder defense led the MIAA in scoring defense (allowing just 12.8 points per game) during the regular season.
Abbs guided the Thunder to a 6-4 record in each of his first two seasons at the helm of the program. The two teams had 17 members make All-MIAA lists including nine First Team performances. in 2016 Zachary Denig earned the Pete Schmidt Memorial Scholar Award, the first in his tenure. Abbs joined the Thunder coaching staff in 2006 as defensive coordinator. Before joining the Thunder, Coach Abbs worked with the Fort Wayne Freedom Professional Indoor Football Team as the defensive line coach. Prior to his time with the Freedom, Abbs coached for eight years at Fort Wayne Carroll High School and one year at East Noble High School.
Coach Abbs was a member of both the baseball and football teams while working on his bachelor’s degree at Hanover College and earned a Scholar Athlete Award in 1998. In 2006, Abbs earned his Master of Science in educational leadership from Indiana University.
