Charlotte Hoping Albin Finds
Quick-Turnaround Magic Again

By David Glenn
North Carolina Sports Network
(last updated Aug. 28, 2026)

During Tim Albin’s four-year tenure as the head coach at Ohio, he opened with a difficult 3-9 campaign, then posted three consecutive 10-win seasons, capturing a couple of Mid-American Conference coach of the year awards and the 2024 MAC championship along the way.

Charlotte football fans would love to see a similarly dramatic turnaround in the Queen City, given Albin’s ugly 1-11 debut with the 49ers in 2025.

Even if the 10-win threshold remains an impossible dream in the short term, given that Charlotte’s modern gridiron program is only 13 years old and now competes in the American Conference (far more challenging that its former home, Conference USA), there is significant hope that the 49ers will field a much more competitive team this season.

“To have great growth, you have to be made to feel uncomfortable,” Albin said. “Trust me, we were all uncomfortable (last season). From the fans, the administration, to the coaches.”

Charlotte’s home field symbolizes the challenging nature of the university’s relatively new and ongoing pursuit of gridiron competence.

Jerry Richardson Stadium’s 15,314 capacity is by far the smallest in the American Conference. Seven of the 49ers’ league competitors, including in-state rival East Carolina, play their home games in stadiums three or four times as large.

The Charlotte administration seems to be trying, though. Richardson Stadium was designed to be expandable to a 40,000 capacity. In the meantime, an ongoing $70 million expansion project, which will increase capacity to 18,100, is expected to be completed before the 2027 season.

Many Charlotte fans are stepping up financially, too. The athletic department’s recent “Fuel The Future” campaign, a football-specific fundraising initiative, raised more than $3.8 million. That money directly helped the 49ers retain 52 players and bring in a solid 2026 transfer portal class.

“I wear what happened last year — the product — and I own it,” Albin said. “I’m not gonna make it solely fall on my shoulders, but ‘Fuel The Future’ has given us a lifeline of more talent, and that’s why we’re so excited headed into Year Two. A lot of the guys on defense returned because of those efforts. The talent that we have acquired with that project, we are a better football team.”

When Albin (previously a long-time offensive coordinator) turned around the Ohio program, he did so in large part by directing potent offenses. His 2022 and 2024 teams combined to average roughly 30 points per game, and the latter squad captured the university’s first MAC football title since 1968.

In stark contrast, among the 134 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams last year, Charlotte finished 131st in scoring offense, at just 14 points per game. The 49ers were 132nd in rushing offense, at only 82 yards per game, and rarely got above-average quarterback play.

It came as no surprise, then, when a majority of the 49ers’ most accomplished portal additions were offensive performers.

Pitt transfer Cole Gonzales, a fifth-year senior and one of the most prolific passers in Western Carolina history, beat out former Duke player Grayson Loftis and former UNC player Connor Harrell for the starting QB job. (Loftis and Harrell each took a turn as the 49ers’ starter last year.) Two accomplished wide receivers (see details below) arrived via the transfer circuit, too, along with a proven, fifth-year tight end.

The running back room now includes fifth-year Cincinnati transfer Chance Williams (a former Grambling star), sixth-year 49ers veteran Henry Rutledge (back from injury), Coastal Carolina transfer D’Mariun Perteet (a 2024 juco All-American), Appalachian State transfer Khamani Alexander (also an accomplished kick returner) and returning sophomore Jariel Cobb (three 2025 starts).

The offensive line, meanwhile, received reinforcements from the Power Four, Group of Six, FCS, Division Two, junior college and high school ranks.

“We’re 12 pounds (per man) heavier in the o-line. We’re just shy of 10 pounds heavier in the d-line,” Albin said. “We are bigger. We’re bigger, faster, stronger.”

Unsurprisingly, in this year’s preseason poll, Charlotte again was picked to finish dead-last in the 14-team American Conference, but Albin is adamant that he will have a better team than he had a year ago.

“The advantage that we have this year, going into the second year, is that there’s 52 guys who have been with this staff,” Albin told Niner Times. “And so now, there’s more accountability in the locker room, and they’re not looking around for coaches. The coaches are looking at the 52 other guys that were here last year. I call those guys deputies, because they’ve gone through the expectations of our staff, so things are running smoother.”

The 49ers will be favored in their opener, against The Citadel (an FCS program) in Charlotte. After that, they could be an underdog 11 consecutive times. The only way to avoid that is to start beating some FBS opponents. Among this year’s foes, Appalachian State, Louisiana, UAB and Tulsa may be in rebuilding mode, while Ole Miss, North Texas, Memphis and Tulane will be taking the field under first-year head coaches.

“I’m just excited for our fans,” Albin said. “I can’t wait for the stadium to be filled, and then to see the progress of our expansion going on. The erector set is gonna be in full bloom. I think it’s going to bring more interest to our program. And then we’re gonna get some wins in the win column, and we’re gonna build off of that.”

2026 CHARLOTTE FOOTBALL

Head Coach: Tim Albin, 2nd season (1-11 overall, 0-8 American Conference)

Offensive Coordinator: Todd Fitch (2nd season with 49ers, 2nd season as 49ers’ OC)

Defensive Coordinator: Nate Faanes (2nd season with 49ers, 2nd season as 49ers’ DC)

Returning Starters/Offense (3): sixth-year RT Kristos Fernandez, senior QB Grayson Loftis, sixth-year TE Gus McGee

Returning Starters/Defense (4): fifth-year CB CJ Clinkscales Jr., senior DE Jaylon Johnson, fifth-year LB Kadin Schmitz, fifth-year DT Jamarrion Solomon

Returning Starters/Special Teams (2): junior WR/KR Derrick Eley, fifth-year P Bronson Long

Most Accomplished Incoming Transfers (7): senior Appalachian State WR/PR Jaden Barnes (starter, 1,895 career receiving yards, 17 TD), fifth-year Pitt QB Cole Gonzales (2-year starter at Western Carolina, 6,800 career passing yards, 52 TD), fifth-year Southeast Missouri State WR Cam Pedro (2x All-Big South/OVC, 1,264 career receiving yards, 4 TD), senior Coastal Carolina RB D’Mariun Perteet (2024 1st-team NJCAA A-A at Northwest Mississippi CC), fifth-year Maine OC Nic Cruji (3-year starter), fifth-year McNeese State TE Logan Mauldin (2-year starter, 538 career receiving yards, 3 TD), senior Virginia Union OT Mathias Nielsen (HBCU A-A, 3x All-CIAA/D2, 3-year starter)

Other Intriguing Incoming Transfers (7): junior Appalachian State RB/KR Khamani Alexander, sophomore North Carolina DT Devin Ancrum, junior NC State WR Tank Boston, senior Kansas CB/KR Jameel Croft Jr., junior Maryland S Shamar McIntosh, fifth-year Cincinnati RB Chance Williams, senior Penn State OL J’ven Williams

NFL Draft Departures (0): none

NFL Free Agent Departures (5): WR Sean Brown (Broncos), S Ja’Qurious Conley (Buccaneers), S Randy Franklin (Broncos), LB Shay Taylor (Chiefs), LB Reid Williford (Ravens)

Key Transfer Portal Departures (11): WR Javen Nicholas (3rd-team All-AAC, 64 career receptions, 766 yards, 5 TD), Duke; K Liam Boyd (starter, 13-16 career FG), Michigan State; CB Dwight Bootle II (starter), Arizona; OT Tyler Gibson (starter), UCF; S Cary Grant (starter), Appalachian State; OG Mo Clipper Jr. (starter), Georgia Southern; RB Don Chaney Jr. (1,030 career rushing yards, 9 TD), Louisiana-Monroe; RB Rod Gainey Jr. (part-time starter), LSU; DE Yamil Talib (37 career tackles), Colorado; DT Xavier Miles (part-time starter), Memphis; WR Miles Burris (part-time starter), Akron

2026 Charlotte Schedule

Sat., Sept. 5—The Citadel, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
Sat., Sept. 12—at Ole Miss, 7:45 p.m. (ESPN2)
Sat., Sept. 19—at Appalachian State, 6 p.m. (ESPN+)
Sat., Sept. 26—Louisiana
Sat., Oct. 3—Memphis
Sat., Oct. 10—at North Texas
Sat., Oct. 17—at Temple
Sat., Oct. 24—OPEN
Fri., Oct. 30—Tulane, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
Sat., Nov. 7—at UAB
Sat., Nov. 14—East Carolina
Sat., Nov. 21—at Tulsa
Sat., Nov. 28—Navy

Preseason Media Poll: Charlotte = 14th among 14 American Conference teams
DG/NCSN Regular-Season Prediction: 4-8