In his first couple of days as UAB's interim football coach, Alex Mortensen quickly earned the respect of athletic director Mark Ingram, who was impressed by Mortensen's composure, professionalism and steady leadership amid a challenging transition.
Mortensen, the 39-year-old son of late ESPN reporter Chris Mortensen, had been tasked with replacing former Blazers coach Trent Dilfer, who had given him his first big break in coaching when he hired him as the team's offensive coordinator in 2023.
According to Ingram, Mortensen was calm and confident when he met with UAB's players and assistant coaches for the first time after Dilfer was fired Oct.