UAB taps Alex Mortensen to lead Blazers as interim head coach

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - It’s not how Alex Mortenson ever expected to have his first head coaching gig, but he’s thankful for the opportunity regardless.

Mortensen was named the UAB interim head coach after Trent Dilfer was relieved of his duties as the Blazers are now sitting at 2-4 (0-3) on the year.

Mortensen was hired as the team’s offensive coordinator in 2023.

“I certainly want to thank (Athletic Director) Mark Ingram for expressing the confidence in me and our administration to do this for the remainder of the season,” Mortensen said after expressing his gratitude to Dilfer. “It’s obviously not the circumstances with which I would want this to happen, but I’m certainly grateful.”

Ingram said they are excited to have Mortensen lead the program for the next six games.

“He’s been our offensive coordinator, as your know, for the last two and a half seasons,” Ingram said, saying the Blazers’ success on offense is well documented. “He’s very well liked by our players, very well liked by our staff and those who know him and work with him.”

Mortensen, the son of late ESPN NFL analyst Chris Mortensen, played at Arkansas and Samford before being signed by the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2009.

As Mortensen prepares to embark on his first chance as a head coach, albeit on an interim basis, Ingram is embarking on a coaching search to lead the Blazers into the future.

“We certainly want a track record of winning,” Ingram said Monday. “But you’re also looking for people who are high character, high integrity people.”

While Ingram said it would be unfair to everyone involved to try and set a timeline on hiring a new coach, he didn’t rule out Mortensen as a possibility, saying he will look at every candidate that might be interested.

Mortensen, however, is focused solely on making sure the players can finish the season in a positive way, especially the seniors competing in final games of their college careers.

“This thing isn’t about me,” he said. “They’re seniors and this is their last stretch to play college football. So, it’s important to us that we send them out the right way.”

It won’t be an easy road for UAB as their next game sees No. 22 Memphis come to Protective Stadium Saturday.

Remaining UAB Football Games

“Certainly, you know, excited to try to take on that challenge here for the remainder of the season,” Mortensen said.

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