Andalusia Mayor Earl Johnson and PowerSouth Energy Cooperative CEO Gary Smith have been selected to the advisory committee that will help find Troy University’s next head football coach.

Trojans coach Larry Blakeney will retire at the end of the season after 24 years at the helm.

Troy athletic director John Hartwell made the announcement on Friday that the committee will assist him in the nationwide search for Troy’s 21st football coach.

“We are very early in the proces,” Johnson said. “My job is to advise and counsel with those who do have to make the decisions and that’s the athletic director, chancellor, and other officials of the university.

“We want to find someone who can pick up where our great coach, Larry Blakeney, has left off with retirement,” Johnson said. “He is the winningest coach in history of Troy.”

Johnson said the group will meet for the first time on Tuesday, and already has several people interested in the job.

The committee is comprised of Troy alumni, former players, community leaders and local business owners, including:

• Sandy Atkins – Troy University Alum / Troy University Senior Associate Athletics Director

• Ben Beard – Troy, Ala., businessman

• Bobby Brown – CEO, Wiley Sanders Truck Lines, Inc.

• Karen Carter – Troy University Board of Trustees

• Nick Cervera – Troy University Alum/Troy University attorney

• Randy Eberhart – Troy University football letterwinner

• Lamar P. Higgins – Troy University Board of Trustees

• Earl Johnson – Mayor, Andalusia/Troy University Sports Hall of Fame Committee Chairman

• Doug Mims – Troy University Alumni Board/Troy University Foundation Board/Troy University Football Letterwinner

• Eric Mizell – Troy Bank & Trust Executive/Troy University Alumni Board/Troy University Football Letterwinner

• Allen Owen – Troy University Board of Trustees/Troy University Football Letterwinner

• Doug Patterson – Retired Troy University Senior Vice Chancellor

• Jason Reeves – Mayor, Troy

• Gary Smith – CEO, Powersouth Energy Cooperative

• Freddie Thomas – Troy University Alumni Board/Troy University Football Letterwinner

• Willie Tullis – Troy University Sports Hall of Fame Member/NFL Alum/Troy University Football Letterwinner

• Lawrence Tynes – Troy University Sports Hall of Fame Member/Super Bowl Champion/Troy University Football Letterwinner