5 things to know about Charlotte 49ers new head coach Tim Albin
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When Tim Albin met with Charlotte 49ers football players Monday morning, the room erupted in applause, according to 49ers AD Mike Hill. Photo: Courtesy of Charlotte 49ers Athletics
"Wow. We're gonna win," was the first thing Tim Albin said as he took the podium Monday afternoon as the Charlotte 49ers' fourth head football coach. His enthusiasm was met with cheers from a packed room above Halton Arena.
Why it matters: The Charlotte 49ers have potential, which is why Albin says he took the job. They moved into the American Athletic Conference in 2023 and will begin construction on a $70 stadium expansion in 2025. Now they need a winning product on the field.
What they're saying: "The vision for the program is to be in a bowl every year," 49ers director of athletics Mike Hill said. "We need to establish ourselves as a consistent winner."
Catch up quick: Charlotte finished the season 5-7, firing Biff Poggi after less than two full seasons as head coach in November. Poggi went 6-16 overall and 4-10 in the AAC.
- Albin is coming off a Mid-American Conference championship win with Ohio, where he went 33-19 overall and 23-9 in conference. He was at the helm for the most successful three-year run in program history.
The bottom line: He knows how to win at the collegiate level and his first test with the 49ers will be on Aug. 29, when they take on Appalachian State at Bank of America Stadium in the Duke's Mayo Classic.
Until then, here are five things to know about the 49ers' new head coach.
His rescue dog's name is Macey.
He and his wife, Brooke Albin, started the Cats Feeding Dogs campaign (Ohio's mascot is the Bobcat) each fall. The Albins covered the cost of admission for fans who brought donations for the Athens County Dog Shelter.
He likes to fish.
The Albins used to take his coaching staff's kids fishing while the grown-ups spent the day with their spouses. The event became an annual tradition known as Bobcat Kids Fishing Day.
- Speaking of fishing, he has vacationed a few times at Lake Norman.
Birthdays matter.
He makes a point to talk to every player on their birthday.
He's a huge live music fan.
Albin has seen Sammy Hagar perform more than 20 times. Earlier this year, he slipped out of a meeting to take his family to their first Hagar concert in Cincinnati.
- "Don't be nervous," Albin said to Chancellor Sharon Gaber as everyone in the room burst into laughter.
My thought bubble: Coach, if you like live music, Charlotte has you covered with Lovin' Life Music Fest and plenty of other concerts.
He plays a little golf.
Albin says he isn't very good at it.
My thought bubble: Plenty of people who aren't very good at golf, myself included, will flock to see people who are very good at golf at the PGA Championship this spring.