The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Letters from Mark Ingram
5/3/2016 12:00:00 AM | General
Dear Blazer Nation,
We have had another busy month at UAB! On April 5, Rob Ehsan was selected to be the sixth head coach in the history of Blazer Basketball. Coach Ehsan was far and away the best and most qualified person for the job among a very accomplished group of candidates. Our players and athletics staff are very excited to have him at the helm of the program. Rob has assembled a strong staff in hiring Dannton Jackson, former head coach at Xavier University of Louisiana, and Kevin Devitt from Wright State University, who previously served on the UAB staff in an administrative role. Turner Battle, a vital component of the success the Blazers have enjoyed the past several seasons, has been elevated to serve as associate head coach.
In other basketball news, we have entered into an agreement to play the University of Memphis in a series that will have UAB visit the FedEx Forum next season, with the Tigers returning to Bartow Arena during the 2017-18 campaign. We are excited to renew this rivalry against a great program with whom we share so much history.
On April 13, we were pleased to recognize UAB softball head coach Marla Townsend for recording her 500th career victory as a Blazer. Marla is the only head coach this program has ever known in its 18-year history. She and her staff continue to do great work in the community and on the field in leading an exceptional group of young women.
The ongoing fundraising effort for the UAB Football Operations Center continues to make great progress. You may have seen the recent announcements regarding significant corporate gifts to the project from Protective Life, Alabama Power and Medical Properties Trust. Support from top businesses in Birmingham is a testament to the commitment of area leaders to building a strong UAB. These are the first of many celebrations of support for the Blazers, and we look forward to sharing those success stories with you in the near future.
Finally, while our spring sports are still competing, another semester has come to an end with 43 Blazers graduating and walking across the stage last week, proudly holding their degrees in victory. This is the greatest championship they will take from their years in the Green and Gold, and will put them in a position to be successful for the rest of their lives.
We hope you have a wonderful summer. Thank you for all you do to support UAB athletics!
GO BLAZERS!
Mark T. Ingram
Director of Athletics
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Previous Letters from Mark Ingram:
