Six days ago, UAB made a significant coaching change by firing former Super Bowl-winning quarterback Trent Dilfer as its head coach. He was replaced by Alex Mortensen, the son of the late NFL reporter Chris Mortensen. This move appears to be paying off quickly.
In Mortensen’s first game as UAB’s interim head coach, the team pulled off a massive upset by defeating the previously undefeated No. 22 Memphis, 31-24. Remarkably, UAB entered the game as a 24-point underdog.
At just 39 years old, Mortensen had never been a head coach before this opportunity. Prior to stepping into the interim head coach role, he served as UAB’s offensive coordinator since 2023.
In contrast, Trent Dilfer’s only prior coaching experience was at the high school level, and that lack of experience seemed evident during his tenure at UAB. His teams often appeared unprepared on game days, culminating in a disappointing 9-21 record over two and a half seasons, which ultimately led to his dismissal.
Under Mortensen’s leadership, however, UAB showed clear improvement. The team was well-prepared and responded with one of the biggest upsets of this college football season. This victory could signal the start of a new era for UAB football.
https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/uab-wins-massive-upset-after-firing-trent-dilfer-replacing-him-with-alex-mortensen