BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT) -- Despite leading the UAB Blazers to only seven wins in the last two years, Trent Dilfer will remain head coach of the football team, UAB Director of Athletics Mark Ingram confirmed in a statement Tuesday.
Dilfer, who won Super Bowl XXXV in 2001 as the Baltimore Ravens' starting quarterback, has fallen short of expectations since taking the head coaching job at UAB in 2022, posting a 7-17 record in two seasons.
Nonetheless, Ingram said the university would continue to stand by Dilfer.
"The last two seasons have been disappointing, but Coach Dilfer has learned a great deal and has a plan for the future," Ingram said in his statement. "NIL and the transfer portal make this perhaps the most challenging time in college football history. But I have seen Coach Dilfer’s dedication and believe that his football IQ, 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."
After leading Lipscomb Academy in Tennessee to a 44-10 mark from 2019-22, Dilfer was named head coach of the UAB Blazers on November 30, 2022, despite having no prior college football coaching experience.
The 2023 Blazers started the campaign 1-4, but found wins against conference foes South Florida, Florida Atlantic and Temple to finish the season 4-8. UAB started the 2024 slate with a season-opening victory but then dropped six straight games before downing Tulsa in early November.
The Blazers defeated Rice in their final home game of 2024 but lost at Charlotte to close the season at 3-9. In Dilfer's two seasons at the helm, UAB has never won a road contest.
In his statement, Ingram asserted that though UAB's standard of excellence has not been achieved, Dilfer had shown a "tireless work ethic" on and off the field. Ingram claimed Dilfer has a great plan for a future. Ingram contended that Dilfer's dedication, football IQ, passion, love for student athletes and relentless work ethic will pay off soon.
Despite UAB keeping Dilfer, Ingram noted the athletics department will make "operational and staff changes," in addition to more investments in the program.
In a statement accompanying Ingram's, Dilfer said UAB fans deserved better and that he had a "clearer picture" of what it will take for the program to be successful again.
"Our fans deserve better than the win-loss record we’ve given them the last two years, but I have worked extremely hard and learned a lot, and I am confident in the clearer picture I have regarding what needs to happen for UAB Football to win," Dilfer said. "I am committed to doing what it takes to win. We need to do some things differently, and I have a plan to get our program where it needs to be. I have talked extensively with AD Ingram and appreciate his support of UAB Football. I also appreciate the significant investments and support our program receives from the institution, as well as commitments our leadership has made to increasing support."
UAB football started competing at the FBS level in 1996 but was cut following the 2014 season. The program was revied in time for the 2017 season under head coach Bill Clark, who led the Blazers in 2014. Clark finished his tenure at UAB with a 49-26 record and won Conference USA championships in 2018 and 2020.
Bryant Vincent took over as interim head coach for the 2022 campaign. In Vincent's one season in that position, the Blazers won seven games, including the Bahamas Bowl.
Ingram's full statement can be read below:
"Blazer fans,
"Our last two football seasons have not met UAB’s standard of excellence in the least, and nobody — especially Coach Dilfer and myself — thinks that’s ok. However, in his short time as a Blazer, Coach Dilfer has demonstrated a tireless work ethic — both on and off the field — to make a positive impact at UAB and on the Birmingham community.
"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. But I have seen Coach Dilfer’s dedication and believe that his football IQ, 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.
"His efforts to support our players academically have already paid off in notable increases in the team’s Academic Progress Rate, and I look forward to seeing his continued efforts turn into wins on the field — which is what we are all working to achieve. This is our collective focus, and we have the strong support of our university leadership, System Office and Board of Trustees. Our institutional support is among the highest of the public institutions in The American, and we will continue to make additional investments to increase competitiveness.
"The most important thing right now is for Coach Dilfer to focus on his plan and address what needs to be done moving forward. We will make operational and staff changes, as well as additional investments. I support Coach Dilfer and the team, and I will do everything I can to help them compete for bowl eligibility and championships in The American and beyond.
"Thank you for all you do to support UAB Athletics. Your continued support is essential to our success.
"Go Blazers!"