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PAGE 10 March 2026 E-Edition
Richard Owens Added to Alabama Football Coaching Staff
University of Alabama head football coach Kalen DeBoer officially announced the addition of Richard Owens to his coaching staff. Owens will be tasked with leading the Crimson Tide’s tight ends room. “Richard Owens possesses a diverse skillset and knowledge for the game that he has grown over time as both a player and coach,” said DeBoer. “His background will allow him to contribute to not only the success of our tight ends but also to our offense as a whole. He also has a familiarity with our staff and the Southeast Region that made him our top choice to fill this role.” An experienced assistant at the collegiate level, Owens has worked with multiple position groups and in various coordinator roles on offense across 16 seasons. His resume includes work with the tight ends, offensive line and wide receivers in addition to serving as an offensive coordinator and run game coordinator. “There’s no greater stage in college football than the SEC,” said Owens. “I’m honored to join Coach DeBoer’s staff and work alongside a tremendous group of colleagues. I am going to pour everything I have into Alabama and upholding the standard of excellence here. Roll Tide!” Owens comes to Tuscaloosa following a three-year stint at his alma mater, Louisville, where he worked with the offensive line. Across his three seasons, the Cardinals finished 28-12 overall and recorded back-to-back bowl game victories in 2024 and 2025. Under Owens’ watch, Louisville produced nine All-ACC offensive linemen, highlighted by Bryan Hudson, who earned first team all- conference honors and was named the Jacobs Blocking Trophy recipient as the ACC’s top offensive lineman in 2023. Prior to his time at Louisville, Owens worked as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator for Georgia Southern in 2022. He joined the Eagles following three years at UAB from 2019-21 where he directed the Blazers’ offensive line. His 2021 group helped UAB average nearly 400 yards of offense per game with 43 total offensive touchdowns. The Blazers capped a nine-win regular season with
an Independence Bowl victory over 13th-ranked BYU, racking up over 400-yards in the win. The line was led by first team all-conference honoree Colby Ragland who anchored a unit that blocked for a 1,300-yard rusher and a 2,200-yard passer. UAB secured a Conference USA West Division title in 2020, thanks in large part to Owens’ offensive line group. The unit allowed just four sacks all season, the fourth-fewest in the nation, and was led by first team all-conference honorees Sidney Wells and Ragland. The Blazers averaged 200.0 rushing yards per game and featured Spencer Brown who averaged 111.1 rushing yards per game as a senior on his way to setting the program’s career rushing mark at 4,011. In Owens’ first year leading the offensive line, the Blazers finished 9-5 overall and won the C-USA West Division title. His unit featured two honorable mention all-conference honorees in Wells and Ragland. His first stop at Louisville came in 2018 where Owens led the Cardinals’ tight ends. He spent the 2015-17 seasons at South Alabama, first directing the tight ends in 2015 before taking on duties with the offensive line from 2016-17. He traveled to Mobile following three seasons at UAB from 2012-14. During that first tour in Birmingham, Owens guided the Blazers’ tight ends in 2012 and 2014 while serving as the offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach during the 2013 campaign. Owens got his start in coaching as a graduate assistant at Arkansas from 2010-11 where he worked with the Razorbacks’ tight ends. A 2004 graduate of Louisville, Owens started three seasons at tight end for the Cardinals and caught 36 career passes for 371 yards and seven touchdowns. He went on to sign a free agent contract with the Minnesota Vikings, part of a six-year NFL career that included time with the Vikings, St. Louis Rams and New York Jets. He appeared in 53 games with seven starts from 2004-09, totaling 18 receptions for 141 yards and one touchdown. Owens’ longest stint came in Minnesota from 2004-07, where he served as a special teams captain during the 2005 season.
Photo By Brandon K. Pierce, The Sports Ledger
DAR Tennis Players (L-R) Zoe McCoy and Edyn Morrison during a match at Cherokee County on February 19, 2026. SIDELINE SPORTS ALABAMA A-DAY - Alabama Athletics and Head Football Coach Kalen DeBoer has announced that the program's annual A-Day will take place on Saturday, April 11 at 1 p.m. CT at Bryant-Denny Stadium. While additional details surrounding A-Day will be announced at a later date, attendees should note that some modifications will be made relative to upgraded experiences, activations outside the stadium, concessions and premium seating due to preparations for the concert on Saturday, April 18. The annual Walk of Fame ceremony at Denny Chimes, honoring the 2025 captains, will still take place prior to the scrimmage, as will the Walk of Champions. ALABAMA HOMECOMING - Alabama football’s annual Homecoming game is scheduled for Oct. 24. The Crimson Tide will host Texas A&M. The game will mark the 17th time that Alabama has faced the Aggies in series history. UA owns a 13-3 (.813) advantage in the series. Alabama owns an 89-14-1 (.861) all-time record on Homecoming and has won 22 of its last 25 matchups on Homecoming dating back to 2000. COMMUNITY SERVICE - Auburn sophomore Syriah Daniels has been named to the SEC Community Service Team for women’s basketball. Daniels continues to give back to her hometown both through team initiatives and through her own generosity. She has represented Auburn as the team's Kay Yow Servant Leader this season. In the local community, she personally provided 20 sets of headphones for students at a local elementary school to assist a teacher with a new learning technique for her class. She also participated in World Read Aloud Day at Cary Woods Elementary school, reading to students in their classrooms. Daniels donated to Coach Larry Vickers' Books and Baskets initiative, providing books as holiday gifts for children who attended Auburn's last game before the holiday break. She also donated to Toys for Tots for the Auburn Veterans' Association and participated in the Habitat for Humanity program in the Auburn area. UAB Football Schedule UAB has announced its 2026 football schedule, setting the stage for a new chapter of UAB football. Alex Mortensen is set to lead the Blazers through a balanced 12-game slate including eight bowl teams from a season ago, three of which will visit Protective Stadium. UAB opens the season on the road against Big Ten opponent Illinois on Sept. 5, before returning to Birmingham for its home opener against ULM on Sept. 12. The non-conference schedule also includes a regional matchup at Louisiana and a cross-town contest against Samford. Conference play in the American features a challenging home slate at Protective Stadium, highlighted by matchups against three bowl-winning teams from a year ago in Navy, East Carolina and UTSA. The Blazers will also host Charlotte, while traveling to face Memphis, South Florida, Temple and American runner-up North Texas during league play. “This is a strong schedule from top to bottom. Our non-conference games will challenge us early, and the American continues to be one of the most competitive leagues in the country,” Alex Mortensen said. “We’re excited about the opportunity to compete every week and continue building our program.” 2026 UAB Football Schedule
Adrian Klemm Added to Alabama Football Coaching Staff
University of Alabama Head Football Coach Kalen DeBoer has announced the addition of Adrian Klemm to his coaching staff. Klemm will direct the Crimson Tide’s offensive line. “Adrian Klemm has a reputation for recruiting and developing players at every level, having worked with some of the top offensive lines in his 15-plus years coaching,” said DeBoer. “He has a deep knowledge and passion for the game, and I know that he will be able to have an immediate impact on our program. We look forward to having him on staff.” Klemm comes to Tuscaloosa with a wealth of coaching experience, both on the collegiate and NFL levels. In addition to his most recent role at Southern Cal, he has also worked in the college ranks at Oregon, UCLA and SMU. Klemm’s NFL resume includes time with New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers. “I am incredibly honored and grateful for this opportunity to join Coach DeBoer’s staff at The University of Alabama,” said Klemm. “The tradition, culture and championship standard in Tuscaloosa is second to none. I’m excited to get to work with our players and this staff, and it feels great to be a part of the Alabama family. Roll Tide!” Klemm spent the 2025 season at USC as a senior defensive assistant. Prior to his time with the Trojans, he was tasked with directing the Patriots’ offensive line for the 2023 season under head coach Bill Belichick. New England added Klemm from Oregon, where he spent the 2022 season as the Ducks’ associate head coach, offensive line coach and run game coordinator. In his lone season in Eugene, UO led the FBS for fewest sacks allowed with just five across 13 games. Oregon also ranked sixth in total offense, 10th in scoring, 12th in rushing and 17th in passing during that ’22 season. Additionally, the offense was top-10 nationally in first downs per game (26.8), red zone scores (46), plays of 10- plus yards (217) and yards per play (6.94) with Klemm’s guidance. The Ducks had two All-America selections along the offensive line in 2022 and saw three linemen go on to play in the NFL. Before his time in Eugene, Klemm spent three seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2019-21. He began his stint in Pittsburgh as the assistant offensive line coach from 2019-20 before being promoted to offensive line coach for the 2021 season. The Steelers went 29- 19-1 across his three seasons and earned the AFC North division title in 2020. Klemm’s offensive line helped open holes for Najee Harris to run for 1,200 yards as a rookie in 2021. The Steelers finished that ’21 campaign at 9-7-1 to earn a spot in the NFL Playoffs. The year prior, Pittsburgh allowed the fewest sacks in the league (14), seven-fewer than the next-closest team. In 2019, the Steelers went 8-8 while the offensive line finished in the top 10 for sacks allowed. Prior to his time in the NFL, Klemm held the title of associate head coach, offensive line coach and run game coordinator at UCLA from 2012-17. With his guidance, the Bruins broke multiple offensive records, including single- season marks for passing yards (3,860 – 2012), rushing
yards (2,724 – 2014), total offense (6,531 – 2012) and scoring (482 points – 2012). He also helped sign some of the top recruiting classes while in Westwood. In 2015, Klemm’s offensive line led the Pac-12 for fewest sacks allowed per game at 1.15, a total that finished 15th nationally. UCLA’s 15 sacks allowed were the second-fewest in program history and paced the conference while tying for the 14th-fewest in Division I. The Bruins’ offensive line play helped running back Paul Perkins become the first player in program history to eclipse 1,000-plus rushing yards in consecutive seasons. The 2013 offensive line unit featured Xavier Su’a-Filo who was awarded the Morris Trophy, presented annually to the Pac-12’s top offensive lineman. Su’a-Filo went on to be drafted in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft and played eight seasons in the NFL. As a recruiter, Klemm helped the Bruins sign one of the nation’s top classes in 2012, earning him the distinction of Pac-12 Recruiter of the Year by 247Sports. He followed that up by inking an impressive offensive line group in 2013 to garner recognition from Rivals.com as one of the country’s top-25 recruiters. Klemm got his start in coaching at Southern Methodist University under his former collegiate head coach, June Jones. He served as the offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator for the Mustangs from 2009-2012. In 2011, SMU featured the nation’s seventh-leading rusher in tailback Zach Line, who averaged 122.4 yards per game behind Klemm’s group that featured two future NFL Draft picks. The 2010 line helped set program records for total offense, passing yards and passing touchdowns, among others. The Mustangs amassed 1,494 yards rushing, the second-best mark in school history behind only the 1982 team that featured future NFL Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson. Klemm’s first season tutoring the line in 2009 saw the SMU offense pass for a then-school record of 3,666 yards and produce the first 1,000-yard rusher under Jones in running back Shawnbrey McNeal. While in Dallas, Klemm also emerged as one of the top recruiters in all of college football, earning national accolades from numerous outlets. Following the 2010 season, he was selected as the top non-BCS AQ Recruiter by Rivals and was also recognized by the site as one of the top-25 recruiters nationally. Additionally, Scout.com named him the Conference USA Recruiter of the Year for 2010. Born and raised in Inglewood, Calif., Klemm attended Saint Monica Catholic High School in Santa Monica. He went on to start four consecutive seasons at Hawai’i from 1996-99, primarily at left tackle. Following a standout college career, Klemm was drafted in the second round (46th overall) of the 2000 NFL Draft. He totaled seven seasons as a pro, including stints with the Patriots (2000-04) and Green Bay Packers (2005-06). While with New England, Klemm became a three-time Super Bowl Champion with wins in XXXVI, XXXVIII and XXXIX. Klemm has two sons, Jalen, who is currently playing football at Arizona State, and Nikko, currently playing at Sacramento State.
Sept. 5 – at Illinois Sept. 12 – vs. ULM Sept. 19 – at Louisiana Sept. 25 – vs. Navy* (Friday)
Oct. 3 – vs. Samford Oct. 10 – at Memphis* Oct. 15 – vs. East Carolina* (Thursday) Oct. 24 – Open Oct. 31 – at South Florida*
Nov. 7 – vs. Charlotte* Nov. 14 – at Temple* Nov. 21 – vs. UTSA* Nov. 28 – at North Texas* *American Conference Game | All games, dates and times are subject to change.
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