Charlotte 49ers football zeroes in on Ohio’s Tim Albin as next head coach

After nearly three weeks of searching, the Charlotte 49ers have finally settled on a new head football coach, hiring Ohio University head coach Tim Albin, according to a source.

Following two MAC coach of the year awards in the past three seasons and a blowout conference championship victory Saturday, the 59-year-old head coach will take the reins at Charlotte following Biff Poggi’s dismissal on Nov. 18.

Albin has been with the Bobcats since 2005, starting as offensive coordinator and running backs coach through 2018, before being promoted to associate head coach and eventually head coach in 2021. Paired with a three-year stint as head coach at his alma mater, Northwestern Oklahoma State, from 1997-99, winning the NAIA championship following a perfect season in 1999, Albin’s overall record as head coach is 58-27, including two bowl victories in as many attempts.

Following a 3-9 season in his first with the Bobcats in 2021, Albin followed with three straight 10-win seasons, scoring two conference championship berths. He’ll be in charge of yet another turnaround project in Charlotte. The 49ers have had just one winning season during their brief existence, a 7-6 campaign that ended with a loss in the school’s lone bowl appearance.

With experience in the FCS and Group of Five, Albin understands working with limited resources and has continued to excel, losing just 10 games combined the past three years. In March 2023, Ohio extended Albin’s contract through 2026 and gave him a significant raise to $700,000 annually, about $300,000 less than Poggi made in his less-than-two seasons with the 49ers.