UAB Football

Head Coach

— received All-America accolades in 2005 . The UAB job is the first head coaching posi- tion for the successful, veteran coach and is one Callaway embraces and of which he sees loads of potential . “UAB has established a solid foundation when it comes to creating and developing a football program,” Callaway said . “I’m looking forward to building on what exists and taking it farther than people can imagine . There are many people who are dedicated to this team, and that is so important in building championships . We have some work to do to get where we want to be, and where we expect to be in the very near future .” Callaway, a native of Macon, Ga ., and a graduate of the Uni- versity of Alabama, served as offensive line coach at Alabama in 1997 and line coach and from

eil Callaway, who has been a part of suc- ous outstanding offensive linemen Ncessful football programs throughout his for the Bulldogs . While under playing and coaching careers, was named the head Callaway’s tutelage, six different coach at UAB on December 17, 2006 . Georgia O-linemen earned Callaway, who had been the offensive coordi- A l l - S o u t h e a s t e r n nator at the University of Georgia for the previ- Conference hon- ous six seasons, became the third head coach in ors on 10 the history of the UAB football program . occasions . He enters his second season after inheriting a One of program low on numbers and experience . The them — win-loss record was not reflective of the progress M a x being made and Callaway and the Blazers are Jean- extremely optimistic about the future . Gilles “Coach Callaway brings to UAB a hard-nosed attitude, both on the field and in the classroom,” Richard Margison, who served as the Blazers’ Interim Director of Athletics from December, 2005 until this February of 2007, said at the press conference announcing Callaway’s appointment . “He knows how to win . He has been connected with winning programs everywhere he has been and he will bring that attitude and experience to UAB . He delivers to our football program exactly what we need to successfully move us forward .” During his six years at UGA, he was part of a staff that helped lead Georgia to 61 victories, two SEC championships, three SEC Eastern Division titles, four bowl victories, and four top 10 finishes in the final national polls . In 2002, the Bulldogs finished as the SEC’s top scoring (32 .14 ppg) and pass efficiency (138 .91) offense and the ‘Dogs were second in scoring offense in 2005 . In addition, Callaway helped develop numer-

90 UAB Football

Head Coach Neil Callaway

1998 to 2000 . Prior to joining the Crimson The Callaway File Tide, he served as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Houston (1993-96) . Birthdate: November 15, 1955 He was the long-time offensive line coach under head coach at Auburn (1981-92) . Cal- Birthplace: Macon, Ga . laway also served on Dye’s staff at Wyoming High School: Central (1980) and at East Carolina (1978-79) . He was College: Alabama, ’78 inducted into the Macon (Ga .) Sports Hall of Fame in 2006 . During Callaway’s tenure at Auburn, the Coaching Experience Tigers won or shared four SEC championships 1978-79 Part-Time Assistant Coach, East Carolina and he produced four first-team All-Americans 1980 Assistant Coach, Wyoming (Offensive Line) and 14 All-SEC players . 1981-92 Assistant Coach, Auburn (Offensive Line) In his four seasons coaching at Houston, the Cougars’ offensive line allowed just 19 .5 sacks 1993-96 Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator, Houston per season including only 10 sacks in his final 1997 Assistant Coach, Alabama (Offensive Line) year . Houston won the inaugural Conference 1998-2000 Offensive Coordinator, Alabama (Offensive Line) USA championship while he was there . Callaway and his wife, Karen, have three chil- 2001-06 Offensive Coordinator, Georgia (Offensive Line) dren: Russ, Kate, and Clay . 2007-Present Head Coach, UAB

Playing Experience Alabama (1974-77) — Two-year letterwinner . . played guard, tackle, defensive end, nose guard, and linebacker at various times for the Crimson Tide . . Frank Thomas award winner in 1977 as the team’s most outstanding athlete . Central High School (1970-73) — Played linebacker and offensive guard .

(L-R): Russ, Neil, Kate, Karen and Clay

91 UAB Football

Kim Helton

Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends The Helton FIle

im Helton, who has an abun- at his alma mater, the University of Born: July 28, 1948 at Pensacola, Fla . Kdance of coaching experience at Florida, from 1973-78 . Alma Mater: Florida, 1970 both the professional and collegiate Helton has also coached for five dif- levels — including a six-year stint as ferent NFL teams with his most recent Helton’s Coaching Experience head coach at Conference USA mem- stop with the Washington Redskins UAB, Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends, ber Houston, was named offensive under (2002-03) . Hel- 2007-Present coordinator at UAB in January, 2007 . ton also coached with the Tampa Bay Toronto Argonauts, Assistant Coach/ In addition to his duties coor- Buccaneers (1983-86), Houston Oilers Running Backs, 2006 Washington Redskins, Assistant Coach/ dinating the Blazer offense, Helton (1987-89), the LA Raiders (1990-92) Offensive Line, 2002-03 coaches the tight ends . and the (1993) . Memphis Maniax, Assistant to Director of Player Helton has an impressive resume of experi- He spent a year with the Memphis franchise Personnel/Interim Quarterbacks Coach, 2000-01 ence, most recently as running backs coach with in the XFL from 2000-2001 as assistant to the , Head Coach, 1993-99 the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Foot- director of player personnel . He also served as the Miami Dolphins, Assistant Coach/ ball League . While with the Argonauts, Helton interim quarterbacks coach . Offensive Line, 1993 coached Ricky Williams and John Avery . As a collegiate player at Florida, Helton made Los Angeles Raiders, Assistant Coach/ Helton’s collegiate coaching experience an immediate impact with the Gators in 1967 as Offensive Line, 1990-92 includes a stint as the head coach at the Uni- he was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team . Houston Oilers, Assistant Coach/ versity of Houston from 1993-99 . He also spent As a sophomore, he was the recipient of the Offensive Line, 1987-89 time as the offensive coordinator at Miami from team’s Most Outstanding Sophomore Award . In Tampa Bay Bucs, Assistant Coach/ 1979-82, coaching quarterbacks Jim Kelly and 1970 as a senior, he was named Florida’s Offen- Offensive Line, 1983-86 Vinny Testaverde . Helton got his coaching start sive MVP while leading the Gators to a 14-13 win University of Miami (Fla .), Offensive Coordinator/ in the collegiate ranks as the offensive line coach over Tennessee in the Gator Bowl . Offensive Line, 1979-82 , Assistant Coach/ Offensive Line, 1973-76

Helton’s Playing Experience Florida, 1967-70

Helton earned his bachelor’s degree from Florida in 1970 . He and his wife, Pam, have two sons: Clay, an assistant football coach at the University of Memphis; and Tyson, an assistant football coach on the staff at UAB .

Pam and Kim with grandchildren (L-R) Aubrey, Turner and Reid (Clay’s children). Tyson’s children pictured on page 99.

92 UAB Football

Eric Schumann

Defensive Coordinator/Safeties The Schumann File

ric Schumann, who had served as In 2000, his defense held oppo- Born: Oct . 3, 1954 at Pensacola, Fla . Edefensive coordinator at Tulane nents to less than 100 yards rushing Alma Mater: Alabama, 1977 for five seasons, was named UAB’s six times, while his 1998 defense defensive coordinator in December of achieved a final ranking of No . 14 Schumann’s Coaching Experience 2006 . He also coaches the Blazer overall and was 12th in pass effi- UAB, Defensive Coordinator/Safeties, safeties . ciency . They held opponents to less 2007-Present Tulane, Defensive Coordinator/Safeties, 2002-06 Schumann brought a significant than 200 yards of total offense in SMU, Assistant Head Coach/ amount of experience to the Blazers . four games and caused 28 turnovers . Defensive Coordinator, 1997-2001 Schumann also spent five seasons as The ’98 team also allowed the fewest East Tennessee State, Defensive Coordinator, the defensive coordinator at SMU points for the Mustangs in 13 years . 1992-96 while coaching the defensive backs . Schumann served as defensive coordinator Valdosta State, Defensive Backs, 1990-91 While coaching at SMU, the Mustangs led the throughout his tenure at SMU but he was pro- Livingston University, Defensive Backs, 1989 Western Athletic Conference in defense in 2001 moted to assistant head coach following the 1997 Pierce County (Ga .) H .S ., Head Coach, 1987-88 and ranked No . 22 nationally . SMU was 30th in season when the Mustangs achieved their first New Mexico, Graduate Assistant Coach/ the NCAA statistics in rushing defense, yielding winning record in 11 years and had a defense Defensive Backs, 1986 just 122 yards per game, and ranked 35th in pass ranked 29th nationally . Valdosta State, Defensive Coordinator, 1985 efficiency defense . In 2001, SMU’s WAC-leading defense Valdosta State, Assistant Coach, 1983-84 Troy State, Graduate Assistant Coach/ allowed 45 fewer yards Outside Linebackers, 1982 than the second-ranked league school . Schumann’s Playing Experience Prior to going to SMU, Alabama, 1973-77 Schumann was the defen- sive coordinator at East Bowl linebacker with the Atlanta Falcons . Tennessee State for five Schumann was a defensive back in his college seasons . At ETSU, Schu- playing days at Alabama (1973-77) and was a mann also guided some member of the Crimson Tide team that won a impressive defensive units . UPI national championship in 1973, as well as The 1996 Bucs’ team led four championships the Southern Conference (1973-77) . in rushing defense and Schumann earned both his bachelor’s and the 1993 team was third master’s degrees from Alabama . nationally among Division A native of Blue Island, Ill ., Schumann has a I-AA schools in pass effi- son, Glenn (18) and a daughter, Erica (16) . ciency defense . One of the players Schumann coached at ETSU was Donnie Abraham who went on to become an All-Pro defen- sive back with the . Schumann’s other coaching stops included five seasons, in two sepa- rate stints at Valdosta State and one season each at Livingston, New Mexico and Troy State . Schumann is a two-time Broyles Award nominee (National Assistant Coach of the Year) . At Valdosta State, Schumann coached Jessie Tuggle, who later became a five-time Pro Glenn, Eric and Erica

93 UAB Football

Corey Barlow

Cornerbacks The Barlow File

Corey Barlow, a former All- 2007 season . Born: Nov . 1, 1970 at Atlanta, Ga . America performer at Auburn who Barlow, an Atlanta native, was Alma Mater: Auburn, 1992 went on to play in the National a standout performer at Auburn in Football League, is in his second the early 1990s . Barlow coached the Barlow’s Coaching Experience year on the coaching staff at UAB . 2006 season at the University of UAB, Assistant Coach/Cornerbacks, 2007-Present He was one of Neil Callaway‘s first Rhode Island where he was the sec- Rhode Island, Assistant Coach/ hires when Callaway became head ondary coach . During his playing Defensive Backs, 2006 coach in December of 2006 . Barlow days at Auburn, Barlow was a four- Morehouse College, Assistant Coach/ Defensive Backs, 2002-05 coaches the Blazer cornerbacks . year letterman for the Tigers and Southside High School (Atlanta), UAB’s pass defense ranking in earned All-SEC honors in 1990 and Assistant Coach/Defensive Backs, 2001 Conference USA statistics improved from the 1991 . He also garnered All-American accolades previous season in Barlow’s first season on the as a senior following the 1991 season . Barlow’s Playing Experience staff . The Blazers went from No . 5 to No . 2 in He was named to Auburn’s All-Decade (for Auburn, 1988-91 overall pass defense while they improved from the 1990s) Team . While at Auburn, he was Philadelphia Eagles, NFL, 1992-95 ninth to fourth in pass defense efficiency in the captain of the 1991 team and was also named the Tigers “Most Valuable Defensive Player” that season . He participated in the 1988 Sugar Bowl, 1989 Hall of Fame Bowl and the 1990 Peach Bowl . Following his senior season, Barlow participated in the Blue-Gray All-Star Game and the Senior Bowl in Mobile . He was selected in the fifth round of the 1992 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles and played three seasons with the Eagles . Prior to his stint at Rhode Island, Barlow spent four seasons at Morehouse College and worked with the Maroon Tiger secondary . Bar- low also has coached in the high school ranks as he coached two years at Southside High School in Atlanta . Barlow is married to the former Tia Reid of Greensboro, Ga . They have one daughter, SeCori (19) .

Tia and Corey

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