Ben Sowders is on the move again - and he's bringing nearly two decades of strength and conditioning experience with him to Troy.
After spending the past two seasons as Arkansas’ Director of Strength and Conditioning, Sowders has accepted the same role under Troy head coach Gerard Parker. For Sowders, this marks the fifth program where he’ll lead the strength and conditioning efforts, a journey that’s taken him through a wide range of programs and competitive levels.
If there’s a common thread in Sowders’ career, it’s his steady climb through the ranks and his consistent impact on player development. He got his start as a director at Gardner-Webb (2013-14), then took over at McNeese State in 2017. His most prominent stop before Arkansas came at Louisville in 2022, and now he brings all of that experience to Troy - a program looking to build on its own recent momentum.
Sowders knows what it takes to compete at the highest level. He played linebacker at Western Kentucky from 2005 to 2008, and that on-field experience has clearly informed his approach in the weight room. Before stepping into director roles, he spent time as an assistant at Southern Miss (2012-13), Georgia Tech (2015-16), and Georgia (2018-21), where he was part of a staff that won a national championship.
Troy head coach Gerard Parker didn’t hold back when discussing the hire: “Coach Sowders is going to be a big-time addition to our football program,” he said in a statement. “He has coached and trained some of the top athletes in collegiate football during his career, won a National Championship and is one of the most respected strength coaches in the profession.”
That’s high praise - and it speaks to what Troy believes this hire can do for the trajectory of its program. Strength and conditioning isn’t just about lifting weights or running sprints - it’s about culture, discipline, and maximizing every ounce of potential. Parker clearly sees Sowders as someone who can elevate that standard.
“Our players are going to receive world-class training in the weight room, and I can’t wait to see their progression under Coach Sowders and how it will translate onto the field,” Parker added.
Sowders’ departure is part of a broader reshuffling of Arkansas’ 2023 staff, many of whom have landed at other high-profile programs. Bobby Petrino, who served as offensive coordinator, is now at North Carolina.
Defensive coordinator Travis Williams took a job at Texas A&M, while co-defensive coordinator Marcus Woodson is headed to Kansas State. Running backs coach Kolby Smith is now at Kentucky, wide receivers coach Ronnie Fouch joined Coastal Carolina, and offensive line coach Eric Mateos is at Wisconsin.
It’s been a season of change in Fayetteville, and Sowders’ exit is another piece of that puzzle. But for Troy, it’s a major gain - a proven leader with experience at both the Power Five and Group of Five levels, and someone who’s helped shape elite programs from the inside out.
Now, he gets a chance to do the same in Troy.