Albin discusses his MAC championship and sudden departure — leaving his home of 20 years for Charlotte.
It was a day 56 years in the making.
The Ohio Bobcats were the beacon of consistency. Frank Solich guided Ohio to a 9-5 record in 2009 and the program never looked back. The Bobcats only were subject to one losing campaign in the past 16 years — the season when Solich unexpectedly stepped down in July due to health issues, handing the reins to his protégé Tim Albin.
Solich established the foundation, leading Ohio to consistent bowl appearances and MAC championships. Albin then took it to another level, ushering in the best 3-year stretch in Ohio history. Despite all the success, the one box the Bobcats hadn’t checked was a MAC title. Not since 1968.
But nearly two decades of buildup finally saw its culmination on the fateful day of Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. Ohio demolished rival Miami (OH) at Ford Field in the MAC Championship Game, leaving no doubt in a 38-3 pulverization.
“20 years there and played for the championship six times,” Albin said in July at American Conference media days, reflecting on the moment. “I was so happy for the administration, the fanbase that supported us all those years. Nobody was picking. The guys that stepped up from (center) Parker (Titsworth) to the staff, it was a surreal experience and I was humbled to be apart of it.”
They were ready to party like it was 1968 in Athens, OH. Albin promised a party on College Green in his postgame press conference.
But a plot twist struck during the bus ride back from Detroit to Athens. Rumors swirled the head coach was not present on the team buses. Later that evening, reports confirmed Albin was taking a job with the Charlotte 49ers after spending 20 years at Ohio — 16 as offensive coordinator and four as head coach. However, that’s not the reason why Albin could not be located that night.
“The timeline was unfortunate,” Albin said. “That’s not what you want. My family was on the buses. I had a medical emergency with my dog and was not. (Taking the Charlotte job) had zero to do with me not being on there. My brother was in from Louisiana, my two kids and their spouses were there. It’s just how it happened. My wife Brooke and I addressed the team the next morning. It was a tough day.”
Albin’s 2024 salary at Ohio was approximately $709,000 per USA Today — ranking 112th of the 125 coaches whose earnings were disclosed. At Charlotte, he is expected to make $900,000 in 2025. However, Albin reiterated salary was not a factor in his first campus move in two decades.
Instead, he was intrigued by the potential of the Charlotte 49ers. The program joined the FBS in 2015 and have produced one winning season, faring 7-6 in 2019. However, Charlotte’s entrance into the American Conference in 2023 unlocked boundless hope within the young program.
“I can assure you it was not an easy decision,” Albin said on leaving Ohio. “In 20 years there, it was my children’s home. It had zero to do with salary — I can tell you that right now. Zero. I operate with a different metric when it comes to that. The opportunity that Charlotte football has here — resources, administration, there’s just a lot of opportunities in the American and this conference.”
Albin’s Ohio influence remains visible in Charlotte. There are 16 assistant coaches and support staff members with Bobcat ties, headlined by defensive coordinator Nate Faanes. He also lured several key contributors from the 2024 MAC champions to Queen City, including defensive end Kadin Schmitz and inside linebacker Shay Taylor.
Although focused on the new gig at Charlotte, Albin remains appreciative of the last 20 years in Athens and cherishes his time cultivating and elevating the Bobcats’ winning culture.
“Brooke and I gave everything that we had for 20 years to Ohio University,” Albin said. “We would not change a thing for that.”