He excelled in both academics and athletics at Clairton High School in his hometown of Clairton, Pennsylvania, and earned a scholarship to play college basketball for the Saint Francis Red Flash.

[1][2] Although his 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) height led to his nickname "Tree", Trosch did not play as a traditional big man and instead preferred long-range shooting as he remarked that he had "a guard's mentality".

[3] He played with the New York Tuck Tapers in the National Industrial Basketball League (NIBL) during the 1960–61 season and tried out for the Pittsburgh Rens of the American Basketball League (ABL) prior to the 1961–62 season.

[5][6] After his retirement from playing basketball, Trosch worked as a teacher at West Mifflin North High School.

[7] Trosch died of a heart attack in Fishers, Indiana, after he fell ill on a golf course in Indianapolis.