Troy football coach Jon Sumrall is leaving to take the same job at Tulane, it was announced Friday.

Sumrall is 23-4 in two seasons with the Trojans, including Sun Belt Conference championships both years. Troy (11-2) is set to face Duke (6-6) in the Birmingham Bowl on Dec. 23.

“This is a landmark day for Tulane Football,” Tulane athletics director David Harris said. “Jon’s passion for the game is unmatched and I really felt that in meeting him. The Green Wave will be in good hands under his leadership and we’re excited that he and Ginny have elected to make their family part of ours here at Tulane.”

The 41-year-old Sumrall returns to Tulane after previously working there as a defensive assistant from 2012-14. He’ll replace Willie Fritz, who left Sunday to become head coach at Houston.

A former Kentucky linebacker, Sumrall also worked as an assistant at San Diego, Troy, Ole Miss and at his alma mater. The Huntsville native got his first head-coaching job in 2021 with the Trojans, who had endured three straight five-win seasons under Chip Lindsey from 2018-2020.

Sumrall got immediate results at Troy in 2021, overcoming a 1-2 start to finish the season with 11 straight victories including the Sun Belt Conference championship game and the Cure Bowl. The Trojans also started 1-2 this year, and have currently won 10 straight games heading into the Birmingham Bowl.

Sumrall got a contract extension through 2026 in March, raising his salary to $1 million for the 2023 season. Fritz made $2.8 million this past season at Tulane, so it would seem Sumrall is getting a significant raise to leave the Trojans.

“I can’t thank President (Michael) Fitts and David Harris enough for this opportunity,” Sumrall said. “Having spent some of the early part of my career here, I came to know, first-hand, what it means to be a Tulanian and got to meet so many wonderful people at Tulane. Ginny and I are beyond grateful for the chance to experience that again and I can’t wait to get back to work with the Wave!”

Tulane has gone 23-4 the last two seasons under Fritz, including the American Athletic Conference championship in 2022 and a victory over USC in the Cotton Bowl. The Green Wave are 11-3 this year after losing to SMU in the AAC championship game, and will face Virginia Tech in the Military Bowl on Dec. 27.

It was not immediately clear who will coach Troy in its bowl game.