There are plenty of connections between Tennessee football and UAB that you can find. Not only is Blazers coach Trent Dilfer the former high school coach of Vol defenders Kaleb Beasley and Edwin Spillman, but the school’s athletic director was a former player at UT, as well.
Mark Ingram graduated from Tennessee in 1996 with a Bachelor’s degree in Sport Management and minors in both Business and Psychology. He was a two-time Academic All-SEC honoree and was twice awarded the Volunteer award, which is given to a former walk-on. He was a long snapper during his time at UT.
After his playing career, Ingram joined Tennessee’s staff as a graduate assistant in Football Operations at Tennessee. He was then hired as an Assistant Director of Marketing and later on as an Assistant Director for Development. He spent some time at both Georgia and Missouri before returning to Tennessee.
He would then join Temple as the Senior Associate Athletic Director. There, he was also the Associate Vice President/Executive Senior Associate Athletics Director. Ingram served as sport administrator for Men’s Golf and Women’s Lacrosse and managed the development office and facilities renovation projects at the university.
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He was named UAB’s Director of Athletics on May 1, 2015. He is now beginning year 11 of his time on the job. One of his first steps was to revive the Blazers’ football program. He was also a part of the change from CUSA to the AAC.
In his time at UAB, the university has won a total of eight conference championships, featuring two in football, three in men’s basketball, one in women’s basketball and two in rifle. Prior to his time at UAB, the football team had made a bowl appearance just once.
Things could be better for the program at the moment, though. The Blazers’ coach, Dilfer, is on the hot seat after a shaky tenure. To start 2025, he has UAB 2-1, but with a loss to Navy in its only conference game. While expectations are far from competing with Tennessee this Saturday, he’ll need to right the ship before year’s end.
Kickoff on Saturday between the Vols and Blazers is set for 12:45 p.m. ET and will air on SEC Network.
