Former UAB offensive lineman Matt McCants will bear a new title when the 2024 football season kicks off after head coach Trent Dilfer named him the Blazers’ next offensive line coach on Monday.

“I am so honored to announce one of the all-time great Blazers, Matt McCants, as our new offensive line coach,” Dilfer said in a release. “As the leader of this program it is my responsibility to surround our student athletes with great men, great coaches and great recruiters — Matt is all three.”

McCants played on UAB’s offensive line from 2007-11 and earned a pair of first-team all-Conference USA honors during his playing career with the Blazers. Following his college career, McCants was selected by the New York Giants in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL Draft.

Throughout his seven-year NFL career, McCants played stints with the Giants, Oakland Raiders, Chicago Bears and Cleveland Browns. McCants also spent time playing for the AAF’s Birmingham Iron and the XFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks.

In 2021, McCants returned to Birmingham, where he initially served as a volunteer assistant coach with the Blazers. In 2022, McCants worked as a strength and conditioning coach with the UAB program, followed by being named the Director of Character Development for the 2023 season.

Now taking over as UAB’s offensive line coach, McCants replaces Eddie Gordon, who left the Blazers in March and went on to join the Green Bay Packers as the team’s assistant offensive line coach.

When UAB’s season kicks off on August 29 in a game against Alcorn State, the Blazers will be coming off a 2023 season that saw them set a single-season record for total offense with an average of 450 yards per game.