UAB hires Georgia Offensive Coordinator Neil Callaway as new head coach

Callaway played for the legendary "Bear" Bryant at Alabama in the late seventies

After 29 years as an assistant coach, Neil Callaway is finally getting an opportunity to run the show.

Callaway, 51, became the third coach in UAB history on Sunday. He replaces the most prominent coach in the Blazers’ brief history, Watson Brown. Brown, who coached UAB for the past 12 seasons, left on December 9 th to take the job at Tennessee Tech.

Callaway spent the last six seasons as the offensive coordinator at the University of Georgia. During his time in Athens, the Dawgs have won two SEC championships, three SEC East titles and three bowl games. They finished the season ranked in the Top Ten four times during those six years.

In 2002, Georgia featured the top offense in the conference, averaging 32.1 points per game. They had the league’s most efficient passing offense under former quarterback David Greene.

Last season, the Bulldogs were second in the SEC in scoring offense under the leadership of mobile quarterback D.J. Shockley.

During his first five seasons at Georgia, he coached seven linemen who played in postseason all-star games. He also had nine go on to sign pro contracts.

Prior to UGA, Callaway spent four seasons at his alma mater as the offensive line coach. The last three seasons he served double duty, as he was also the Crimson Tide’s offensive coordinator.

From 1993 to 1996, the Macon, Georgia-native was assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at the University of Houston. The Cougars won the inaugural Conference USA title and a trip to the Liberty Bowl during his final year in Houston. The offensive line allowed only ten sacks that year.

Before Houston, Callaway spent 12 seasons as the offensive line coach at Auburn under the legendary Pat Dye. The Tigers won or shared four SEC titles during his time on the plains. He coached four first team All-Americans and 14 All-SEC players.

Callaway followed Dye to Auburn after serving on his staffs at East Carolina (1978-1979) and Wyoming (1980).

While Callaway does not have any head coaching experience, it is not hard to see why the Blazers feel that he is a solid fit for their position.

He has been associated with winning programs wherever he has coached. The first-time head coach has been in 12 bowl games and has also won numerous conference titles as an assistant. Therefore, he certainly knows what it takes to produce championship caliber teams.

Another reason is the Alabama-connection. Callaway has played and coached in the state for two decades, when you combine his time at Alabama and Auburn. He knows how important football is in the state and should possess strong recruiting ties.

After a very decorated career as an assistant coach, Neil Callaway will now attempt to bring similar results to Birmingham as the head man.

by Thomas "Bubba" Rosenbaum -
CUSA-fans.com Head Football Writer and ECU Correspondent