When Bella and the Bulldogs first kicked off on Nickelodeon back in 2015, everyone was talking about Brec Bassinger. And rightfully so. A cheerleader becoming a star quarterback? It was a cool hook. But if you actually sat down and watched the show, you quickly realized that the emotional "glue" of the locker room—and often the funniest person on screen—was Troy in Bella and the Bulldogs.
Played by Coy Stewart, Troy Dixon started out as the guy we were kinda supposed to root against. He was the displaced king. Before Bella showed up and took his spot, Troy was the Silverado West Bulldogs' starting quarterback. He had the ego, the letterman jacket, and the "Golden Boy" status that usually makes a character feel like a one-dimensional bully.
But he wasn't. Honestly, Troy ended up being one of the most layered characters on the network at the time.
The Ego vs. The Reality of Troy Dixon
Let’s be real: Troy was arrogant. He referred to himself as "The Troy." He had that signature swagger that only a middle school football star can truly pull off without looking ridiculous. When Bella first joined the team, Troy didn't just hand over the keys to the kingdom. He actually tried to prank her into quitting, even trying to use her fear of bulls against her.
It was petty. It was classic "boys' club" behavior.
But the show did something smart. Instead of keeping him as a villain, it moved him to wide receiver and forced him to actually team up with the person who "ruined" his life. That’s where the real magic happened. We saw that Troy’s bravado was basically a shield.
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Why the "Bully" Label Never Stuck
You’ve probably seen shows where the former star hates the new lead forever. Troy shifted fast. Once he realized Bella could actually throw—and that she was just as tough as the guys—he became her biggest ally. There’s a specific episode where the boys are caught dancing to "Glitter Cheeks" (basically a parody of girly pop). Everyone blames Bella for the leak, but Troy is the one who eventually has a real, vulnerable moment with her.
He had a stuffed bunny.
Yeah, the "toughest" guy on the team had a secret stuffed animal. When Bella found it, she didn't laugh. That moment changed their dynamic from teammates to actual friends. It showed that Troy wasn't just a jock; he was a kid trying to live up to a massive reputation while his dad was serving overseas.
Coy Stewart: The Talent Behind the Jersey
You can't talk about Troy in Bella and the Bulldogs without giving credit to Coy Stewart. Before he was catching passes from Bella, Stewart was already a Nickelodeon and sitcom veteran. He’d been on Are We There Yet? and The Electric Company.
He brought a specific kind of comedic timing to Troy. It wasn't just "loud funny"—it was in the facial expressions. The "Wait, what?" looks he’d give when Newt (Buddy Handleson) said something weird were half the reason to watch the show.
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Life After the Bulldogs
Coy Stewart didn't just disappear after the show ended in 2016. In fact, he’s had one of the most interesting "post-Nick" careers of the whole cast.
- Logic’s "1-800-273-8255": He played the lead in that massive music video about suicide prevention. It was a heavy, dramatic role that proved he had way more range than just "the funny football guy."
- Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.: He played Flint, a young Inhuman.
- Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts: He voiced Benson, a fan-favorite character in the hit Netflix animated series.
He’s also a rapper and singer now, performing under the name SWIM. It’s wild to see the guy who used to wear #8 on a fictional football team now making experimental music and acting in gritty dramas.
What Most People Get Wrong About Troy
There’s this misconception that Troy and Bella were meant to be a couple. If you look at old fan forums or Wattpad, the "Tella" (Troy and Bella) shippers were everywhere. They had the classic "enemies to lovers" trope going for them.
But looking back, their relationship was actually better as a platonic partnership. They challenged each other. Bella made Troy less of a misogynist, and Troy helped Bella navigate the weird, high-pressure world of the Bulldogs.
The Dad Factor
One of the most grounded parts of Troy’s character was his relationship with his father. His dad was in the military, which meant Troy was often the "man of the house" at a young age. This explained his obsession with being the "alpha" on the team. He felt like he had to be perfect to make his dad proud from afar.
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There’s a scene where Troy is caught talking to his dad in a janitor’s closet because it’s the only place he can find privacy. It’s a gut-punch of a moment in a show that’s usually about fart jokes and football drills. It made him human.
Why Troy Still Matters to Nick Fans
Most teen sitcoms from the mid-2010s have faded into the background, but Troy in Bella and the Bulldogs remains a standout example of how to write a "jock" character with actual depth. He wasn't just a trophy or a hurdle for the female lead. He had his own arc, his own insecurities, and a pretty massive growth spurt—both physically and emotionally—over the course of the two seasons.
He taught a generation of viewers (mostly the target demo of 8-14-year-olds) that you can lose your "top spot" and still find a way to be a leader. Moving from Quarterback to Wide Receiver could have been a total ego death for a kid like Troy. Instead, he made the position his own.
Key Takeaways from Troy Dixon’s Arc:
- Adaptability: He lost his starting job but became the team's best receiver.
- Loyalty: Once he accepted Bella, he defended her against every other team that talked trash.
- Vulnerability: Admitting he missed his dad and liked "uncool" things didn't make him less of a Bulldog.
If you’re looking to revisit the series, it’s usually floating around on Paramount+ or Nick’s various streaming arms. It’s worth it just to see the chemistry between the main cast. While Brec Bassinger went on to be Stargirl, Coy Stewart’s performance as Troy is what kept the locker room scenes feeling real and earned.
To get the most out of a rewatch, pay attention to the "sub-plots" involving Troy’s family. It recontextualizes all his "The Troy" bragging into something much more relatable: a kid just trying to be seen.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Check out Coy Stewart’s music as SWIM on Spotify to see how much he's evolved since his Nickelodeon days.
- Watch the Season 1 finale again—it’s arguably the best example of Troy and Bella’s on-field chemistry.