UAB Fires Head Football Coach Trent Dilfer After Less Than Three Seasons

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) fired head football coach Trent Dilfer today, October 13, 2025, after a 9-21 record over two-plus seasons, a move that signals the program is seeking a rapid turnaround.

UAB Athletics Director Mark Ingram announced the decision Sunday night, citing the team’s on-field performance. The Blazers are currently 2-4 and have lost their last three games by significant margins – 32, 18, and 20 points respectively. “We have made a decision to part ways with Head Football Coach Trent Dilfer,” Ingram said in a statement on the school’s website. “We agree that — unfortunately — our on-field performance has not lived up to the standard of winning we have for the program.”

Dilfer, a former Super Bowl-winning quarterback, was a somewhat unconventional hire in November 2022, entering the collegiate coaching ranks with no prior experience at that level. He previously coached at Libscomb Academy in Nashville after a nine-year stint with ESPN. The Blazers struggled under his leadership, going 4-8 in his first season (2023) and 3-9 in 2024, despite a recent win against Alabama State and Akron. UAB’s defense is currently allowing a concerning 41.3 points per game, ranking among the worst in college football – you can find updated college football statistics at NCAA.com.

Offensive Coordinator Alex Mortensen, the son of the late ESPN reporter Chris Mortensen, has been named interim head coach for the remainder of the season. Ingram stated, “I have asked Alex Mortensen to serve as interim head coach to lead the team for the remainder of the season as we continue as a department and university to provide the support our student athletes need to compete.” Dilfer’s dismissal adds another name to the list of high-profile coaches facing pressure in a volatile college football landscape, as detailed in recent reporting by ESPN.