On Friday, UAB dropped the interim head coach tag from Alex Mortensen's title, naming him the eighth head coach in program history.
Mortensen, who has been the team's offensive coordinator since 2022, led the Blazers after Trent Dilfer was fired in October. The 40-year-old went 2-4 as interim head coach.
"I love Birmingham, UAB and this team, and I look forward to building a successful program that represents our university and fans well," Mortensen said. "I want to thank the administration for the opportunity and for committing to providing additional institutional support to increase our competitiveness. I am grateful for the confidence being placed in me, and we will make the most of it."
Prior to joining UAB, Mortensen spent nine years on staff at the University of Alabama under Coach Nick Saban. While working under Saban, Mortensen was mentored by the likes of Lane Kiffin, Brian Daboll, Mike Locksley, Steve Sarkisian and Bill O'Brien.
UAB director of athletics Mark Ingram called his new head coach a "true rising star in college football."
"Coach Mortensen is a true rising star in college football who has been immersed in winning at the highest levels, and I am excited to see what he will accomplish leading our program," Ingram said. "His vision for UAB Football is clear: to succeed in the American and bring winning football back to Birmingham. Coach Mortensen already has one of the biggest, most exciting wins in program history under his belt, and his road win to finish the season provides important momentum."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email [email protected].
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every day.
