UAB announces Trent Dilfer will remain as head coach despite two ‘disappointing’ seasons

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December 4, 2024

The UAB Blazers are keeping their head coach, Trent Dilfer, according to a statement from Athletics Director Mark Ingram.

“The last two seasons have been disappointing, but Coach Dilfer has learned a great deal and has a plan for the future. NIL and the transfer portal make this perhaps the most challenging time in college football history,” Ingram wrote.

“But I have seen Coach Dilfer’s dedication and believe that his football 1Q, commitment to UAB, passion for the game, love for student athletes and relentless work ethic will pay off in the near future. For those reasons, Coach Dilfer will continue to be our head coach in 2025.”

It’s been a rough two seasons for the program since Dilfer arrived prior to the 2023 season with a move to the American Athletic Conference. The Blazers are 7-17 over the last two years, taking a step back in 2024 with a 3-9 record after a 4-8 2023 season.

Dilfer, a former NFL quarterback who won a Super Bowl in 2000 with the Baltimore Ravens, was hired by UAB straight out of the high school ranks from the prestigious Lipscomb Academy in Nashville.

News: UAB head coach Trent Dilfer will RETURN next season for a third year.

Statement from AD Mark Ingram: pic.twitter.com/jQlfjxEZ2M

— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) December 3, 2024

The Blazers have struggled to replace former head coach Bill Clark who retired due to medical reasons after the 2021 season. Clark finished his career with a record of 49-26 and guided UAB to their most successful run in program history in a tenure that included three bowl victories.

Dilfer will enter 2025 with a significant amount of pressure to succeed after many fans wanted him to be dismissed this season. But a vote of confidence from administration can go a long way as the program tries to replicate some of the success it saw in the heydays of Clark’s run.

Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.

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