UAB lands Georgia coordinator Callaway

Updated: December 17, 2006, 3:44 PM ET

UAB has hired Georgia offensive coordinator Neil Callaway as its football coach.

Callaway signed a five-year contract with UAB; financial terms weren't immediately available.

Callaway will coach Georgia's offensive line against Virginia Tech in the Dec. 30 Chick-Fil-A Bowl at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta.

Callaway, 51, played for legendary Alabama coach Paul "Bear" Bryant from 1974-77 and also worked as an assistant at Alabama and Auburn.

Callaway replaces Watson Brown, who resigned last week to become coach at Division I-AA Tennessee Tech. Brown, the brother of Texas football coach Mack Brown, had a 62-75 record in 12 seasons as UAB's coach. The Blazers finished 3-9, 2-6 in Conference USA this season.

The Blazers chose Callaway after interviewing South Carolina defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix and Mississippi State offensive coordinator Woody McCorvey. UAB scheduled an interview with LSU offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher, but the meeting was cancelled because the school's board of trustees had concerns that Fisher would be too expensive to hire.

Mark Schlabach covers college football and men's college basketball for ESPN.com. You can contact him at schlabachma@yahoo.com.