 Widenhofer announced he was retiring from coaching following the season finale game against Fresno State on November 30, 2007.In January 2009 he was announced as the head coach of the Alabama Blackbirds of the United National Gridiron League, a new minor league that was scheduled to begin play in February 2009.The league's debut was repeatedly postponed due to financing issues, and in 2010 it suspended operations.