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Son of Late ESPN Reporter Leads UAB in Emotional Debut
18 Oct
Summary
- Alex Mortensen, son of late ESPN reporter Chris Mortensen, makes debut as UAB's interim head coach
- Chris Mortensen worked for ESPN from 1991-2023 and died in 2024 after cancer battle
- ESPN colleagues pay tribute to Alex Mortensen during College GameDay broadcast
On October 18, 2025, Alex Mortensen will make his debut as the interim head coach of the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) football team. This significant event resonates deeply with many in the sports media industry, as Alex's late father, Chris Mortensen, was a beloved ESPN reporter who covered the NFL for over 30 years before passing away in 2024 after a long battle with throat cancer.
During the College GameDay broadcast on October 14, 2025, ESPN reporter Pete Thamel acknowledged the emotional significance of Alex Mortensen's new role, stating, "Our friend Chris Mortensen's son, Alex, is going to be the interim coach at UAB. A lot of eyes, a lot of thoughts and prayers with Alex Mortensen in Bristol today. His dad was the latest and the greatest."
The 39-year-old Alex Mortensen has a strong coaching pedigree, having worked on Nick Saban's staff at the University of Alabama from 2014 to 2022, helping the Crimson Tide win three national championships. He was hired as the offensive coordinator at UAB in 2023 before being elevated to the interim head coach position on October 16, 2025, following the firing of head coach Trent Dilfer.
UAB (2-4, 0-3 American) will host the No. 22 ranked Memphis Tigers (6-0, 2-0) on October 21, 2025, at Protective Stadium in Birmingham, Alabama. The game will be aired live on ESPN2.
