Trent Dilfer takes UAB football job, but will coach Lipscomb Academy in state championship

Lipscomb Academy coach Trent Dilfer leads his team during a game against Calvert Hall from Baltimore, Maryland at Lipscomb Academy in Nashville on Saturday, Sept. 10.
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Trent Dilfer is leaving Nashville for Birmingham.

The Super Bowl winning quarterback and former ESPN analyst has resigned as Lipscomb Academy football coach and accepted the same position at UAB.

Dilfer told his team Wednesday morning of his decision after reports leaked that he was in the process to become the Blazers coach. He plans to still coach in the TSSAA Division II-AA state championship game on Thursday against Nashville rival CPA. He was meeting with the UAB football team Wednesday afternoon.

Dilfer will begin as the UAB coach on Friday, a day after the state championship. UAB plays Miami (Ohio) on Dec. 16 in the Bahamas Bowl.

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"The timing of this release is not ideal with the Div II-AA State Championship game tomorrow," Lipscomb Academy director of schools Brad Schultz wrote in an email to the Lipscomb Academy community. "But, because the information was leaked (Tuesday) overnight and is being reported in national media, we needed to share this news with our community."

Dilfer signed a three-year contract extension in the offseason.

Dilfer coached four seasons at Lipscomb Academy and has a 42-10 record. The Mustangs are the top-ranked team in the state, according to the Tennessee Super 25 high school football rankings. The Mustangs are currently ranked 14th in the country by USA TODAY.

Lipscomb Academy (12-0) plays CPA (8-5) at 10 a.m. CT on Thursday in the TSSAA's Division II-AA state championship game in Chattanooga. It's the third straight state championship game for the Mustangs. All three title games have been against the Lions. Lipscomb Academy is the defending DII-AA state champion and have won 20 straight games, including Alabama powerhouse Thompson, a three-time defending Class 7A state champion.

Dilfer also has a DII-AA state runner-up finish in 2020.

Schultz wrote the school has started a coaching search for Dilfer's replacement. The program opted to move up to Division II-AAA recently and will compete against the top private schools in the state.

"I am confident of the continued upward trajectory of the football program, and the foundation that is in place that has prepared us to move to Div II-AAA competition next season," Schultz wrote. "We have strong student-athletes, enhanced training facilities, skilled football and athletics staff and administration, and the longevity of an institution dedicated to the holistic approach to developing student-athletes from the inside out making Lipscomb Academy an exceptionally attractive opportunity for top talent and future coaching staff.

"We will begin the search process immediately. We already have several strong candidates on our radar to consider as the next leader of the Mustang football program. We will ensure workouts and end of season activities take place according to schedule."

Reach Tom Kreager at 615-259-8089 or tkreager@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Kreager.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Trent Dilfer: UAB football coach resigns from Lipscomb Academy