Trent Dilfer Acquisition: UAB Head Coach Contract Details

If UAB decided to part ways with the head coach Trent Dilfer At the end of the 2024 season, the Blazers would owe their head coach around $3.6 million. UAB would pay Dilfer in monthly installments for the remainder of the contract.

Should he be released at the end of the 2024 season, he would receive $100,000 per month until February 1, 2028, when his contract expires. Here's a full buyout breakdown:

+ Buyout drops to $2.4 million after 2025 season
+ Buyout drops to $1.2 million after 2026 season

Dilfer is paid $1.2 million per season. An annual salary increase is not included in the contract, but he is eligible for performance increases as determined by the UAB athletic director. Mark Ingram.

The former NFL quarterback and ESPN Commentator was hired in November 2022 after finding success coaching in the high school ranks Lipscomb Academy in Nashville. A Super Bowl champion with that Baltimore Ravens In 2000, Dilfer was only in the second year of his five-year contract with UAB

Dilfer was hired as interim head coach in November 2022 Bryant Vincent went 7-6. The former NFL quarterback went 44-10 in four seasons at Lipscomb Academy, including back-to-back state championships.

UAB went 4-8 in 2023 under Trent Dilfer and 3-5 in the American Athletic Conference.

UAB's decision to hire Dilfer was viewed as an unconventional hire. He had never coached or recruited at the college level, and that continued for months into the NIL era.

“I have to admit that initially, like some of you probably did, I thought, 'I'm not going to hire a high school football coach,'” Ingram said at Dilfer's introductory press conference. “I just won't do that. To be honest, I was right. I'm not hiring a high school football coach. I'm taking the No. 6 pick in the NFL draft. A guy who played quarterback at the highest level for 14 years.

“I'm hiring a Pro Bowler who was the starting quarterback on a Super Bowl championship team. A man who worked at ESPN for nine years doing analysis, commentary and draft reporting. A guy who is the head coach of the premier passing academy in the country, Elite 11, and has coached countless college and NFL quarterbacks.”

Six months later, Ingram hired the former NFL quarterback Bill Clark announced he would be retiring from UAB in June 2022, citing a chronic back condition that required surgery. Clark was 49-26 at UAB with two Conference USA Title.

The UAB program has undergone a transformation over the past decade. The football program was discontinued after the 2014 season due to financial difficulties. UAB reintroduced football in June 2015 after public outcry, but the team did not return until 2017 when Clark rebuilt the program.

Dilfer's contract calls for him to earn $50,000 in radio and talent fees each contract year. He also pays $50,000 annually for advertising and fundraising fees.