When Athens offensive lineman Kannon Biggs signed a scholarship Dec. 19 to play football at Troy University, he had no idea that just a few weeks later, the head coach he signed to play for would be leaving to take the same job at West Virginia.

But Biggs hasn’t let that news put a damper on his decision. He’s just as excited to head to Troy and play for a new head coach who was hired just days later.

Former Troy coach Neal Brown, who led the Trojans to 31 wins and three bowl victories in three seasons, took the job at West Virginia on Jan. 5, bringing several of his Troy assistants with him. Troy didn’t wait very long before hiring former Auburn offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey as new head coach on Jan. 11.

The whirlwind of coaching change isn’t something that affected Biggs’ attitude, as he said he understood the reason for Brown leaving to take a job at a school in a Power 5 conference.

“I talked to (Athens coach Cody) Gross about it, and I know how it is,” Biggs said. “Coaches leave, they go here and there. I understand (Brown’s) point of view. West Virginia is a huge opportunity for him. He has to do what’s best for his family. Wherever he goes, he’s going to do well. I’m excited for him and his family.”

While Biggs will be playing for coaches who didn’t recruit him, he’s looking forward to everyone having a fresh slate with a new coaching staff.

“I was talking to my dad, and he said going in I can start freshman year with a whole new coach,” Biggs said. “I can get to know him and hopefully he’ll stay the whole four years I’m there and we’ll build a good relationship.”

Lindsey is no stranger to Troy, having been the Trojans’ quarterbacks coach in 2010. He has also been the offensive coordinator at Southern Mississippi for two years and Arizona State for one year before heading the Auburn offense in 2017 and 2018.

Lindsey had recently taken the offensive coordinator position at Kansas before being hired as the head coach at Troy.

Lindsey also has strong connections to North Alabama, graduating from Bob Jones High School in Madison in 1992 and playing football at the University of North Alabama, where he was a teammate of Gross.

Biggs said Lindsey contacted him the same day he was hired as coach and they had a short conversation about the upcoming season.

“He said they are still really excited to have me,” Biggs said. “He’s from this area and he said he knows I’m going to be a good player. One of the main things I like about him is he’s not brand new to Troy. He’s coached there before, and they are welcoming him back. I’m still really excited to get down there and get started.”