The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Meet the 2016 UAB Football Coaches
7/28/2016 12:00:00 AM | Football
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – With fall camp just around the corner, here is a complete rundown of the 2016 UAB coaching staff.
HEAD COACH BILL CLARK:
The 2014 Conference USA Coach of the Year, Clark continues to build momentum for the UAB football program, community and entire state of Alabama as the Blazers prepare for their return in 2017. Clark turned around the program in his first season (2014) and guided the Blazers to bowl eligibility for the first time in a decade. Click here to read Clark’s full bio.
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR/QUARTERBACKS COACH LES KOENNING:
Koenning has over 35 years of coaching experience, which includes stops as the offensive coordinator at Mississippi State (2009-13), South Alabama (2008), Texas A&M (2003-07) and Alabama (2001-02). Prior to joining UAB in 2015, he was the wide receivers coach at Texas in 2014. Click here to read Koenning’s full bio.
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR/DEFENSIVE LINE COACH DAVID REEVES:
Reeves served as the defensive line coach for the Blazers in 2014 and helped in their remarkable turnaround by spearheading a unit that improved 44 spots in total defense from the year before. The defensive line helped UAB increase its sacks production by 16 in 2014, as well as a +21 increase in TFLs. Click here to read Reeves’ full bio.
RUNNING BACKS COACH RANDY PIPPIN:
Pippin joined the staff in 2015, and along with being the running back coach, he also oversees all of UAB’s summer camp efforts. Pippin joined the staff after a two-year stint at East Carolina Central. Along with successful stops in the high school and college ranks, Pippen won the 1994 NJCAA National Championship as head coach at Trinity Valley CC. Click here to read Pippin’s full bio.
OFFENSIVE LINE COACH TREY CLARK:
Clark was named the offensive line coach in June of 2016 after a three-year stint at Jacksonville State from 2013-15. In Clark’s first year at JSU he served as a graduate assistant, and was then promoted to offensive line coach for the past two years. In 2015, Clark helped JSU reach the FCS National Championship game as he unit helped the offense average 38.9 points per game. Click here to read Clark’s full bio.
INSIDE WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS COACH CASEY WOODS:
Woods joins Clark’s staff after three years as Director of Player Personnel at Auburn (2013-15). In 2012 he was the wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator for Arkansas State, who finished 10-3 that season. He was also at Auburn from 2009-11 as an offensive quality control assistant and was a part of the 2010 National Championship team led by Cam Newton. Click here to read Woods’ full bio.
OUTSIDE WIDE RECEIVERS COACH LARRY SMITH:
Smith is in his first season at UAB after helping build Jacksonville State into a FCS national powerhouse. In 2013 he was a graduate assistant, and from 2014-15 Smith was the quarterback’s coach at JSU. The Gamecocks reached the FCS National Championship game in 2015, led by the Smith-coached Eli Jenkins at quarterback. Jenkins was an All-American an accounted for nearly 4,000 passing yards and 36 touchdowns. Click here to read Smith’s full bio.
LINEBACKERS COACH BRIAN WILLIAMS:
Prior to joining Clark’s staff this year, Williams was the player relations director at the University of Georgia in 2015. Prior to that, he was a part of Florida State’s 29-game winning streak, which included the 2013 National Championship title. Williams was the defensive analyst with FSU. Click here to read Williams’ full bio.
CORNERBACKS COACH BLAKE SHRADER:
Shrader returns to the Blazers after being on staff in 2014 as the Director of Player Personnel. In 2015, Shrader was a quality control coordinator at the University of Georgia. Shrader arrived in Birmingham after a year with Coach Clark at Jacksonville State where they went 11-4 and reached the quarterfinals of the FCS Playoffs. Click here to read Shrader’s full bio.
DEFENSIVE BACKS COACH XAVIER ROBINSON:
Xavier Robinson was named the defensive backs coach in June of 2016, but has been with the Blazers since 2014 on their strength and conditioning staff. Prior to UAB, Robinson had a very successful 10-year run at Prattville HS as an assistant football coach and head men’s basketball coach. Click here to read Robinson’s full bio.
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