Irvine Discloses Terms of Mortensen’s UAB Contract
By Steve Irvine
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA - December 19, 2025
Alex Mortensen is set to earn $1 million per year over five years as the UAB football head coach.
The contract includes a base salary of $800,000 with $100,000 added for a radio and talent fee and another $100,000 added for a promotional and fundraising fee. The contract also includes a series of incentives regarding on the field achievements, postseason appearances and rewards and classroom performance. The University of Alabama System Board of Trustees Compensation Committee must still approve the contract, which began on Dec. 4 and is slated to run through Jan. 31, 2031.
Mortensen was hired as the UAB offensive coordinator in December of 2022 and served in that role until adding the interim head coach role when Trent Dilfer was fired after the sixth game of the season. UAB upset nationally-ranked Memphis in Mortensen’s first game as the interim head coach and broke a 17-game road losing streak with a win at Tulsa in the final game of the season. Mortensen’s first UAB contract at UAB paid him $225,000 and he signed a three-year contract amendment in March of 2024 that raised his annual salary to $325,000.
His first salary as the program’s head coach stipulates that if his employment is terminated by the university before the conclusion of his contract that he will receive 85 percent of the total remaining annual compensation. Buyout owed the university if Mortensen leaves to take another job begins at $950,000 and decreases yearly.
Incentives
6 wins - $25,000
7 wins - $35,000
8 wins - $45,000
9 wins - $55,000
10 wins - $75,000
11 wins - $80,000
12 wins - $200,000
Regular season win over P4 team - $25,000
Final Top 25 CFP ranking - $25,000
Final Top 15 CFP ranking - $100,000
Final Top 10 CFP ranking - $150,000
American Conference championship game appearance - $25,000
American Conference champion game win - $25,000
American Conference Coach the Year - $25,000
Bowl game win - $25,000
CFP first round or bye - $100,000
CFP second round - $100,000
CFP semifinals - $100,000
CFP championship game appearance - $200,000
CFP championship game win - $500,000
National coach of the year - $50,000
Single year APR Score 960-984 - $50,000
Single year APR Score 985 or more - $75,000
Buyout owed university if Mortensen takes another job
Termination prior to Dec. 1, 2026 - $950,000
Termination between Dec. 1, 2026 and prior to Dec. 1, 2027 - $850,000
Termination between Dec. 1, 2027 and prior to Dec. 1, 2028 - $750,000
Termination between Dec. 1, 2028 and prior to Dec. 1, 2029 - $500,000
Termination between Dec. 1, 2030 and prior to Jan. 31, 2031 – No payment