The UAB Blazers are expected to name former NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer as the football program’s next Head Coach. He is currently the Head Coach at Lipscomb Academy in Nashville, Tennessee, and takes over a program despite the lack of college coaching experience. UAB originally looked like they were going to retain interim Head Coach Bryant Vincent, but Dilfer emerged as a candidate and will take over the program heading into the offseason. Former UAB Head Coach Bill Clark resigned in June because of health concerns. Dilfer spent time as an ESPN analyst in between his playing career and coaching career.
Sources: UAB planning to introduce Trent Dilfer as its next coach later today. Dilfer has already informed his team at Lipscomb Academy to tell them the news. UAB is organizing a team meeting this afternoon to introduce him. This will be done by the end of the day. https://t.co/23g6tdzumH
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 30, 2022
In his NFL career from 1994 to 2007, Trent Dilfer played for several teams and recorded 1,759 completions for 20,518 yards, 113 touchdowns, and 129 interceptions on 3,172 passing attempts. In his career, he made one Pro Bowl and helped the Baltimore Ravens win Super Bowl XXXV during the 2000-01 NFL season. His experience in football is well documented, but he has never coached at the college level and his staff could make or break him at UAB.
This season at Lipscomb Academy, Trent Dilfer has coached his team to a 12-0 record with the chance to win a state championship on Thursday. UAB has grown used to fairly successful football and while early success isn’t a deal breaker it would help cement Dilfer as the right man for the job. Former NFL players taking over college coaching jobs have had mixed results in the past, but UAB is attempting it with Dilfer for now.
