Former UAB cornerback Anthony Blevins is the new head coach of the Vegas Vipers of the XFL.

The XFL announced on Friday afternoon that the former Pleasant Grove High School standout would take the reins of one of its eight teams.

“I’m honored to be named head coach of the Vipers,” Blevins said in a release from the league. “I watched the XFL last season, and I was incredibly impressed by the action on the field and the coaching on the sidelines. I’m looking forward to taking the next step in my career, and this a great opportunity to share my knowledge and experience while getting the most out of players on the field for the fans in the stands and watching at home.”

Blevins succeeds Rod Woodson. The Pro Football Hall of Fame member went 2-8 in 2023, the Vipers’ inaugural season.

“Our players will have an incredible opportunity to learn from a coach with NFL and NCAA experience,” XFL President Russ Brandon said in announcing Blevins’ appointment, “and we look forward to seeing his impact on the field and in the locker room.”

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Blevins joins the third edition of the XFL after being a part of the first. He was a member of the Birmingham Thunderbolts in 2001 after playing at UAB from 1995 through 1998. He also played for the Mobile Admirals’ Regional Football League championship team in 1999 and the Birmingham Steeldogs of AFL2 in 2000.

In the 2012 season, his seventh as a college assistant coach, Blevins worked with UAB’s defensive backs before moving to the NFL. He’s been on the New York Giants staff for the past six seasons.

For five of those seasons, Blevins has been the Giants’ assistant special-teams coach. He’s also served as the assistant linebackers coach and the assistant defensive-backs coach.

“Anthony’s talent and potential were evident throughout the interview process,” said Marc Ross, the XFL’s executive vice president of football operations, “and in speaking with some coaches, staff and former players from the New York Giants, it was clear that he knows how to connect with players and staff.

He is a very bright coach who has made stops at every level of football from coaching high school in Atlanta to the Giants with collegiate and NFL stops in between.

“On top of his coaching experience, he knows what opportunity our league can provide to players and staff. Anthony intimately understands our mission, as he had an opportunity to be part of the XFL in 2001 with the Birmingham Thunderbolts. He’s a tireless worker on and off the field, and that’s represented by his PhD in instructional systems and workforce development, which he earned in 2015 while serving as an assistant coach with the Arizona Cardinals. He is a great addition to lead the team, and I look forward to watching his growth.”

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.