UAB is in the process of finalizing a deal to appoint Alex Mortensen as their full-time head coach, according to On3's Pete Nakos and Chris Low. Mortensen, who served as the interim head coach after Trent Dilfer's departure, has been instrumental in UAB's recent success. He led the Blazers to their first victory of the season against Memphis and secured another win over Tulsa, marking the team's first road victory in over two years.
Mortensen's journey to becoming a head coach is an intriguing one. As the son of the late Chris Mortensen, a former ESPN NFL insider, he brings a unique perspective to the role. Mortensen's coaching career began as a quarterbacks coach at Division II New Mexico Highlands in 2012, and he later transitioned to an analyst role under Nick Saban at Alabama from 2020-2022. This was his second stint with the Crimson Tide, having previously worked as a graduate assistant from 2014-2016 and an analyst from 2017-2019.
In 2019, Mortensen also served as the wide receivers coach for the Birmingham Iron in the Alliance of American Football (AAF). His experience as a player, including a brief stint with the Tennessee Titans in 2009, has provided him with a well-rounded understanding of the game. Mortensen's leadership and strategic prowess were recognized when he was nominated for the Broyles Award as the nation's top assistant coach upon his arrival at UAB in 2023.
During his tenure, UAB demonstrated significant improvement, averaging 450 total yards per game in their first season in the American Athletic Conference and scoring nearly 30 points per game. The team's resilience was tested when they faced a challenging week, dealing with a stabbing incident involving two players and excusing multiple players from a game against USF. Despite these obstacles, Mortensen's leadership and the team's determination resulted in a crucial road victory over Tulsa, a moment that Mortensen described as one of his most significant achievements.
This achievement holds even more weight considering the team's prolonged road winless streak and the absence of approximately 30 players during the week leading up to the game. Mortensen's ability to lead a team through adversity and secure a significant win is a testament to his coaching prowess and emotional intelligence.
