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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

PELHAM – The Pelham Panthers will have a new leader on the basketball court come November, and it’s one with years of success at the high school and collegiate levels as Haley Troup starts her head coaching career at PHS.

Troup was approved by the Pelham City Schools Board of Education to be the new head girls basketball coach for Pelham High School at a special-called meeting on Wednesday, June 4.

“From the moment I stepped onto campus and met with the administration, I felt like I was exactly where I needed to be,” Troup said. “The family atmosphere within the school and community is undeniable, and it’s so rare. I knew Pelham is where I wanted to begin my next chapter.”

Troup comes to Pelham from North Alabama, where she was the Lions’ assistant women’s basketball coach for one season following a successful playing career. This will be Troup’s first head coaching position and first high school coaching role.

Troup played college basketball at Missouri and helped the Tigers win 101 games and make the NCAA Tournament twice. Across her five seasons with Missouri, she played the most games in school history at 148 and finished seventh on the school’s all-time 3-pointers list with 141.

She was also a member of the SEC Community Service Team and SEC Basketball Leadership Council and a three-year captain of the Tigers. After playing, she served as a graduate assistant for Missouri during the 2023-24 season before joining North Alabama.

A Gadsden native, Troup was one of the top players in the state during her playing career at Gadsden City, winning Class 7A Player of the Year while making the Super All-State First Team.

“We’re thrilled to welcome coach Troup as the new leader of our girls basketball program,” PHS principal Sabrina Tutchtone said. “Her basketball pedigree is exceptional, coming from a family of coaches and competing at the highest collegiate level in the SEC. Her energy, competitiveness and vision stood out immediately. I’m confident she will build on the winning tradition established here at Pelham.”

Troup takes over from Crosby Morrison, who left Pelham on May 19 to become the head girls basketball coach at Vestavia Hills.

Morrison turned the program around into a perennial powerhouse, going from consecutive losing seasons to six-straight winning seasons, including five-straight trips to the playoffs, four-straight area championships, a Final Four berth in 2022 and three-straight Elite Eight trips from 2022 to 2024.

Troup looks forward to building on Morrison’s foundation with a talented returning roster, including reigning All-State First Team selection Tee King and returners Ally Barfield and Hannah Bankston.

“What excites me most is the existing talent on the roster and the potential of that talent to turn into something really special if we do it the right way,” Troup said. “Pelham has been a consistent contender in recent years, and I can’t wait to continue that tradition.”

Pelham City Schools athletic director Trey Simpson shared his excitement for Troup taking over.

“Coach Troup’s high basketball IQ, tireless work ethic and commitment to building relationships make her the perfect fit for Pelham High School,” Simpson said. “Her experience at all levels of the game has prepared her to lead our program forward while building on the strong foundation established by coach Crosby Morrison.”

A meet-and-greet with coach Troup will take place on Wednesday, June 4 at 6 p.m. at the Pelham High School library.