Alex Mortensen knows the job is hard. He wants UAB fans to know he’s not running from it.

UAB’s first-year head coach sat down with Athlon Sports this week for his most detailed public interview since taking over the program in December. The conversation painted a picture of a coach still finding his footing off the field but fully locked in on what matters most — building something that lasts in Birmingham.

Here’s what stood out for Blazer fans.

He’s not sugarcoating the situation

Mortensen acknowledged what every UAB fan already knows: three straight losing seasons since the move to the American is not acceptable.

“It is a challenge, and it is a tall order,” he told Athlon Sports. “But it is one we’re pretty excited to take on.”

That honesty matters. Dilfer’s tenure ended with a midseason firing. The program’s credibility took a hit. Mortensen isn’t selling a fantasy — he’s naming the reality and asking fans to judge him by what he does next.

The interim audition told us something real

Before the permanent hire, Mortensen showed his hand in real time. His debut produced an upset of then-No. 22 Memphis — UAB’s first top-25 win since 2021. He closed the year with a road win at Tulsa while missing 39 players due to a team incident the week prior. That was the Blazers’ first road victory since 2022.

Two wins don’t make a season. But they revealed a coach who doesn’t fold when the deck is stacked against him. UAB fans have seen plenty of coaches fold.

The roster is almost entirely new — and that’s by necessity, not choice

Only two starters returned from 2025. Mortensen added 41 players from the transfer portal — a number he openly said is higher than he’d prefer long-term.

“I’m not anti-transfer portal,” he told Athlon Sports. “We’ve had some great guys, great players out of the portal that have been an absolute joy to coach. But I would like to have a higher percentage of players coming from high school, and we feel like we’re on a really good, fertile recruiting ground.”

That last line should matter to UAB fans. Birmingham and the surrounding area produce Division I talent every year. Mortensen is signaling that pipeline is a priority — not just portal patchwork.

The culture-setters are already identified

Three players stood out as foundational pieces in the Athlon interview: center Adam Lepkowski, a grad student from Hoover and one of the top offensive linemen in the American; quarterback Ryder Burton; and wide receiver Kaleb Brown.

All three were retained specifically because of what they bring beyond their stats. Mortensen called them culture-setters — the players other guys watch to learn how to carry themselves in this program.

He’s keeping the play-calling

In an era where more head coaches are handing offensive play-calling duties to coordinators, Mortensen is keeping it. He told Athlon he’s confident in the staff he’s assembled but intends to remain the one calling plays on game day.

Mortensen has called plays since arriving as OC in 2023. The offense is his identity as a coach and he’s not letting go of it.

The Saban influence is real — but it’s not what you’d expect

Mortensen spent nine seasons on Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama across three separate stints. He was part of three national championship teams. But the biggest thing he said he took from Saban wasn’t scheme or recruiting philosophy. It was time management.

“I think the time management challenges are definitely legitimate in a position like this,” he told Athlon Sports. “Having experienced the interim portion of it, I do feel like being incredibly organized in the role is really crucial to be able to do it well.”

The off-field demands of being the face of the program — media, fundraising, public appearances — are still uncomfortable for Mortensen. He admitted as much: “I don’t know that I’m in love with all of it yet.”

That’s a refreshingly honest thing for a head coach to say publicly.

The bottom line for Blazer fans

Mortensen isn’t a flashy hire. He doesn’t come with a national profile or a highlight reel of press conference soundbites. He’s a 40-year-old first-time head coach who inherited a program in one of the worst stretches in its history.

But he beat a ranked team in his first game. He won on the road with half his roster missing. He’s keeping his hands on the offense. He’s targeting local recruiting. And he’s not pretending the job is anything other than what it is.

“I’m confident that we’re equipped to do those things,” he told Athlon Sports.

Year 1 starts in September. UAB fans will get their answer then.

This story is based on reporting by Kyle Wood at Athlon Sports. All quotes from Mortensen are sourced from that interview, published May 14, 2026.