UAB fires Trent Dilfer following loss at FAU

UAB has fired Trent Dilfer as its head coach, AL.com has confirmed. Football Scoop was the first to report the new Sunday afternoon.

UAB has named offensive coordinator Alex Mortensen as its interim coach. The university will hold a press conference on Monday.

“We have made a decision to part ways with Head Football Coach Trent Dilfer,” UAB Director of Athletics Mark Ingram said via a university release. “We agree that — unfortunately — our on-field performance has not lived up to the standard of winning we have for the program. This decision will allow us to move forward in the best long-term interest of the program. ... I wish Coach Dilfer the best and thank him for his class, tireless work and commitment during his tenure at UAB. While his efforts did not translate into a winning record, each young man who played for him will be a better person as a result."

Dilfer posted a 9-21 record over two and a half seasons in charge of the Blazers. He went 4-8 in his debut season in 2023 before posting a 3-9 record last year. UAB is 2-4 this season and is in the midst of a three-game losing streak after suffering a 53-33 defeat at Florida Atlantic on Saturday.

UAB survived a scare against Alabama State in its opening game this season before suffering a loss at Navy the following week. The Blazers then beat Akron in Week 3, marking the first time UAB moved over the .500 mark that late in the season under Dilfer. Things went downhill from there, as the Blazers have lost three straight games, falling at Tennessee, at home to Army and at FAU.

Dilfer failed to win consecutive games at UAB, while 18 of his 21 defeats came by double digits. The Blazers were 0-15 on the road under his leadership, losing eight of those games by 20 points or more.

Dilfer was hired by UAB after coaching Nashville-based high school Lipscomb Academy to a 44-10 record from 2019-22. He had no previous experience as a head coach.

Dilfer played 14 seasons as a quarterback in the NFL. He won Super Bowl XXXV with the Baltimore Ravens and was named to the Pro Bowl in 1997.

Dilfer’s current buyout is $2,816,667, according to USA Today.

UAB will host rival Memphis next Saturday at 3 p.m. CT inside Protective Stadium.

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