BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – UAB Director of Athletics Mark Ingram has named Alex Mortensen the eighth head coach in UAB Football history. Mortensen has served as the Blazers’ offensive coordinator since 2022 and led the Blazers as interim head coach for the second half of the 2025 season.
“I love Birmingham, UAB and this team, and I look forward to building a successful program that represents our university and fans well,” Mortensen said. “I want to thank the administration for the opportunity and for committing to providing additional institutional support to increase our competitiveness. I am grateful for the confidence being placed in me, and we will make the most of it.”
The UAB offense has averaged 415.6 yards per game under Mortensen as offensive coordinator, and he led the Blazers to a historic, upset win over No. 22 ranked Memphis in his first game as interim head coach. Prior to joining UAB, Mortensen spent nine years on staff at the University of Alabama under Coach Nick Saban.
“Coach Mortensen is a true rising star in college football who has been immersed in winning at the highest levels, and I am excited to see what he will accomplish leading our program,” Ingram said. “His vision for UAB Football is clear: to succeed in the American and bring winning football back to Birmingham. Coach Mortensen already has one of the biggest, most exciting wins in program history under his belt, and his road win to finish the season provides important momentum.”
Mortensen started his coaching career in 2012 at New Mexico Highlands as the quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator. While there, quarterback Emmanuel Lewis ranked second nationally in Division II for total offense and passing yards per game. Mortensen was then a part of three national championships at the University of Alabama during a stretch in which the program amassed a record of 115-12.
During his first season as offensive coordinator at UAB, the Blazers set a single season school record for yards per game, and Mortensen was named a Broyles Award nominee among the nation’s top assistant coaches.
While working under Saban, Mortensen mentored under many of the industry’s top offensive minds, including Lane Kiffin, Brian Daboll, Mike Locksley, Steve Sarkisian and Bill O’Brien.
“Today marks an important step forward for UAB Football and for our university,” said UAB President Ray Watts. “Coach Mortensen brings leadership, energy and experience that will help us elevate UAB Athletics on the national stage. He has outstanding character, embodies the resilient, fighting spirit of UAB and our fans, and is respected by players.”
“I want to thank Mark Ingram, the search committee and respected advisors for their dedication to this process, as well as the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees and our colleagues in the UA System Office for their continued support of UAB Athletics.”
Of the hire, UAB Athletics Foundation Chair Hatton Smith said, “This search was thorough and purposeful, and we are thrilled to have Alex Mortensen lead UAB Football. He has demonstrated spectacular leadership and was able to win under difficult circumstances, beating a ranked Memphis team and securing our first road win in three years. With his experience and UAB leadership’s commitment to increasing resources for Athletics, Coach Mortensen is poised for success. I look forward to seeing Blazer Nation get behind Alex and the team to support a positive, winning culture.”
While appropriate members of the UA System Board of Trustees have been notified of the proposed terms and conditions of this proposed agreement, the financial terms remain subject to approval by the Board of Trustees.
Mortensen played quarterback at the University of Arkansas where he earned a communications degree, and he earned a master’s degree in Sport Management from the University of Alabama.
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