Trent Dilfer says he was 'forced' to take UAB head coaching job originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Trent Dilfer is acknowledging what many already suspected about his brief tenure at UAB. It was a mistake by the former Super Bowl-winning quarterback.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDilfer went 9-21 in two-plus seasons as head coach of the UAB Blazers and recently admitted he never truly wanted the job before accepting it in 2023. So why would he take it? Pressure to be great at another level.
However, Dilfer faded fast. He was fired midway through his third season after a 2-4 start, ending an experiment that never gained traction in Birmingham.
While on OutKick's "Hot Mic" this week, Dilfer admitted he felt pressure to leave Lipscomb Academy, where he had built a powerhouse program. “I did feel a burden,” Dilfer said. “I did not want to do it. My wife will tell you this. I was vehemently opposed to it.”
Dilfer said multiple schools reached out during his final season at Lipscomb, where he went 44-10 from 2019-22 and capped his run with a 13-0 record in 2022.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementUltimately, Dilfer said he underestimated how different the college landscape had become. With NIL taking a front seat during the time of his hire, the sport became transactional with rapid career advancement the only way forward. But he wasn't chasing a bag.
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“My job at Lipscomb is exponentially better than my job at UAB,” Dilfer said. “It’s not even in the conversation of comparison.”
Now back in high school football, Dilfer appears at peace and candid about a move he never truly embraced. Don't expect him to jet off to college again anytime soon.
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