The Trent Dilfer era at UAB has come to an unceremonious end, as the university parted ways with the former NFL star Sunday after he posted three losing records.
“We have made a decision to part ways with Head Football Coach Trent Dilfer. We agree that — unfortunately — our on-field performance has not lived up to the standard of winning we have for the program,” UAB athletic director Mark Ingram said in a statement, adding that offensive coordinator Alex Mortensen will serve as interim head coach for the rest of the season.
Dilfer, who won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens during his NFL career before transitioning to television and eventually high school coaching, was a high-profile hire for UAB in the fall of 2022, despite his lack of experience as a head coach at higher levels, having only coached four seasons at Lipscomb Academy in Nashville.
“The investments the university has made for UAB Football aligns with my vision of taking this program to new heights as we join the American Athletic Conference and compete annually for the highest prize of playing in the College Football Playoff,” Dilfer said in a statement at the time of his hiring.
Instead of the College Football Playoff, Dilfer took what had been a near-annual bowl participant to three straight losing seasons, going 9-21 (.300 winning %) over the course of his tenure.
Dilfer was 2-4 this year after 4-8 and 3-9 records in his first two seasons.
That came in sharp contrast to the Blazers’ run of five bowl appearances (including three wins) over the previous six seasons.
Dilfer was drafted No. 6 overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1994 after throwing 51 career touchdowns over three seasons with Fresno State. He went on to play 13 seasons for the Buccaneers (1994-99), Ravens (2000), Seattle Seahawks (2001-04), Cleveland Browns (2005) and San Francisco 49ers (2007), throwing for 20,518 yards, 113 touchdowns and 129 interceptions.
