Son of legendary ESPN reporter to make interim head coaching debut in Week 8
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The son of legendary ESPN reporter Chris Mortensen, 39-year-old Alex Mortensen, will make his debut as UAB interim head coach on Saturday afternoon against No. 22 Memphis, and he’ll have quite the cheering section from the World Wide leader.
During College GameDay on Saturday morning from Athens, Pete Thamel, another ESPN football insider, like Alex’s dad was, mentioned Alex Mortensen’s big day with special love for his late father. Chris Mortensen died in 2024 after a lengthy battle with throat cancer. He worked at ESPN from 1991-2023, covering mostly the NFL, and on Saturday morning he was remembered on the pregame show as his son was about to experience a special day.
Alex Mortensen was named interim head coach at UAB after last Sunday’s firing of Trent Dilfer, who was let go after the Blazers got off to a 2-4 start. Mortensen had been UAB’s offensive coordinator since 2023 before getting the promotion to interim head coach less than a week ago. On Saturday in the 4 p.m. ET kickoff on ESPN2, Mortensen will try to lead the Blazers to their first league victory against the 6-0 Tigers in an American Conference battle.
“Our friend Chris Mortensen’s son, Alex, is going to be the interim coach at UAB,” Thamel said. “A lot of eyes, a lot of thoughts and prayers with Alex Mortensen in Bristol (Conn.) today. His dad was the latest and the greatest.”
Alex Mortensen worked under another legend, coaching legend Nick Saban, in various roles on the Alabama staff from 2014-22. After leaving Tuscaloosa, he joined the UAB staff as offensive coordinator in 2023, and 2 years later he finally has the coaching chance of a lifetime.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
