Gus Malzahn facts for kids
.jpg)
Malzahn in 2018
|
|
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Offensive coordinator |
| Team | Florida State |
| Conference | ACC |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | October 28, 1965 Irving, Texas, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1984–1985 | Arkansas |
| 1987–1989 | Henderson State |
| Position(s) | Wide receiver |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1991 | Hughes HS (AR) (OC) |
| 1992–1995 | Hughes HS (AR) |
| 1996–2000 | Shiloh Christian HS (AR) |
| 2001–2005 | Springdale HS (AR) |
| 2006 | Arkansas (OC/WR) |
| 2007–2008 | Tulsa (AHC/co-OC/QB) |
| 2009–2011 | Auburn (AHC/OC/QB) |
| 2012 | Arkansas State |
| 2013–2020 | Auburn |
| 2021–2024 | UCF |
| 2025–present | Florida State (OC) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 105–62 (college) 144–36–1 (high school) |
| Bowls | 3–7 (.300) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
1 SEC (2013)
1 SEC (2010) 1 SEC Western Division (2010) |
|
| Awards | |
Paul "Bear" Bryant Award (2013)
Rivals Offensive Coordinator of the Year (2006) |
|
Arthur Gustavo Malzahn III (born October 28, 1965) is a famous American football coach. He is currently the offensive coordinator for the Florida State team. Before this, he was the head coach at the University of Central Florida (UCF), Auburn University, and Arkansas State.
Coach Malzahn is known for his exciting offensive strategies. He helped the 2010 Auburn Tigers win a national championship. As a head coach at Auburn, he led his team to an SEC Championship and played in the national championship game. He has coached amazing players, including Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton.
Malzahn is one of the few coaches to win over 100 games at both the high school and college levels. He is known for turning teams around quickly, like he did with Auburn in 2013.
Contents
Playing Career
Gus Malzahn played football in college. He was a wide receiver at the University of Arkansas in 1984 and 1985. Later, he transferred to Henderson State University. He played there in 1988 and 1989. In 1990, he earned his degree in physical education.
High School Coaching Career
Malzahn started his coaching journey at Hughes High School in Arkansas in 1991. He was the offensive coordinator first. By 1992, he became the head coach. In 1994, his team almost won the state championship.
His success led him to Shiloh Christian School in 1996. There, he created one of the best offenses in high school football. In 1998, his team set a national record for passing touchdowns. Malzahn guided Shiloh Christian to two state championships in 1998 and 1999.
In 2001, Malzahn moved to Springdale High School. He continued to lead successful teams. His Springdale team won the state championship in 2005. That team went undefeated with a 14–0 record. Many of his players from Springdale later joined him at the University of Arkansas. In 2013, Malzahn was honored by being added to the Arkansas High School Coaches Association's Hall of Fame.
College Coaching Career
Offensive Coordinator Roles
Arkansas Razorbacks
In 2005, Malzahn joined the University of Arkansas as the offensive coordinator. This was his first college coaching job. In 2006, he helped the Razorbacks win the SEC Western Division. They finished the season with a 10–4 record. Malzahn was named the National Offensive Coordinator of the Year.
Tulsa Golden Hurricane
In 2007, Malzahn became the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at the University of Tulsa. His offense at Tulsa was incredibly powerful. In 2007, Tulsa was ranked first in the nation for total yards per game. They were also third in passing yards.
In 2008, Tulsa's offense was again one of the best. They led the nation in total yards. They were also second in scoring, averaging over 47 points per game. This offense was very balanced, strong in both running and passing.
Auburn Tigers
Malzahn became the offensive coordinator for Auburn University in 2008. Under his leadership, Auburn's offense improved a lot. In his first year, Auburn's offense broke a school record for total yards in a season.
In 2010, Malzahn was named assistant head coach. He helped recruit Cam Newton, who later won the Heisman Trophy. Malzahn's offense, led by Newton, helped Auburn have an undefeated season. They won the SEC Championship Game and then the BCS National Championship in 2011. Malzahn won the 2010 Broyles Award as the best assistant coach in the nation.
Florida State Seminoles
After leaving UCF, Malzahn became the new offensive coordinator at Florida State in 2024.
Head Coach Roles
Arkansas State Red Wolves
On December 13, 2011, Malzahn became the head coach at Arkansas State University. In his only year there, he led the team to a 9–3 record. They won the Sun Belt Conference Championship. His team also won the GoDaddy.com Bowl.
Auburn Tigers
Malzahn returned to Auburn University as head coach in 2012. Auburn had a tough season before he arrived. Malzahn quickly turned the team around. In 2013, his first year back, Auburn had an amazing season.
They had two incredible wins that year. First, against Georgia, Auburn won with a last-second tipped pass known as "The Prayer at Jordan–Hare". Two weeks later, in the "Iron Bowl" against Alabama, Auburn won on a 109-yard return of a missed field goal. This play is called the "Kick Six".
Auburn went on to win the SEC Championship. They then played in the BCS National Championship Game. Malzahn won many "Coach of the Year" awards for this amazing turnaround season.
In 2017, Malzahn led Auburn to the SEC Championship game again. They beat two #1 ranked teams, Georgia and Alabama. He coached many All-America Team players at Auburn. Malzahn's time at Auburn ended in 2020.
UCF Knights
On February 15, 2021, Malzahn became the head coach at UCF. In his first season (2021), he led the Knights to a 9–4 record. They won the Gasparilla Bowl against in-state rival Florida.
In 2022, UCF's offense was strong, ranking high in scoring and rushing. They reached the AAC Championship. In 2023, UCF moved to the Big 12 Conference. Malzahn's team secured a bowl-eligible season for the third straight year. In 2024, UCF did not make a bowl game. Malzahn resigned from UCF in November 2024.
Offensive Philosophy
Gus Malzahn is known for his creative offensive ideas. He is famous for his "hurry-up offense". This is a fast-paced style of play where the team does not huddle. They quickly run the next play. In 2003, he even wrote a book about this strategy. Many college and even some professional football teams now use parts of his no-huddle ideas.
Coaching Tree
A "coaching tree" shows how coaches learn from each other. Gus Malzahn started his college coaching career under Houston Nutt. Many players and coaches who worked with Malzahn have gone on to become head coaches themselves.
Players under Malzahn that became head coaches
- G. J. Kinne: Incarnate Word (2022), Texas State (2023–present)
- Rhett Lashlee: SMU (2022–present)
- Barrett Trotter: Bayside Academy (2023–present)
Coaches under Malzahn that became head coaches
- Bobby Bentley: Presbyterian College (2007–2008), Battle Ground Academy (2024–present)
- Brent Dearmon: Bethel (TN) (2018), North Alabama (2023–present)
- Kenny Dillingham: Arizona State (2023–present)
- Eliah Drinkwitz: Appalachian State (2019), Missouri (2020–present)
- Dell McGee: Georgia State (2024–present)
- Mike Norvell: Memphis (2016–2019), Florida State (2020–present)
- Chip Lindsey: Troy (2019–2021)
- Jake Spavital: Texas State (2019–2022)
- Cadillac Williams: Auburn (2022)
Head Coaching Record
College
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | Coaches# | AP° | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arkansas State Red Wolves (Sun Belt Conference) (2012) | |||||||||
| 2012 | Arkansas State | 9–3 | 7–1 | 1st | GoDaddy.com* | ||||
| Arkansas State: | 9–3 | 7–1 | * Did not coach bowl game | ||||||
| Auburn Tigers (Southeastern Conference) (2013–2020) | |||||||||
| 2013 | Auburn | 12–2 | 7–1 | T–1st (Western) | L BCS NCG† | 2 | 2 | ||
| 2014 | Auburn | 8–5 | 4–4 | T–4th (Western) | L Outback | 23 | 22 | ||
| 2015 | Auburn | 7–6 | 2–6 | 7th (Western) | W Birmingham | ||||
| 2016 | Auburn | 8–5 | 5–3 | T–2nd (Western) | L Sugar† | 22 | 24 | ||
| 2017 | Auburn | 10–4 | 7–1 | T–1st (Western) | L Peach† | 12 | 10 | ||
| 2018 | Auburn | 8–5 | 3–5 | 5th (Western) | W Music City | ||||
| 2019 | Auburn | 9–4 | 5–3 | 3rd (Western) | L Outback | 14 | 14 | ||
| 2020 | Auburn | 6–5 | 6–4 | 3rd (Western) | Citrus* | ||||
| Auburn: | 68–35 | 38–27 | * Did not coach bowl game | ||||||
| UCF Knights (American Athletic Conference) (2021–2022) | |||||||||
| 2021 | UCF | 9–4 | 5–3 | T–3rd | W Gasparilla | ||||
| 2022 | UCF | 9–5 | 6–2 | T–2nd | L Military | ||||
| UCF Knights (Big 12 Conference) (2023–2024) | |||||||||
| 2023 | UCF | 6–7 | 3–6 | T–9th | L Gasparilla | ||||
| 2024 | UCF | 4–8 | 2–7 | T–13th | |||||
| UCF: | 28–24 | 16–18 | |||||||
| Total: | 105–62 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
|
|||||||||
High school
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hughes Blue Devils () (1992–1995) | |||||||||
| 1992 | Hughes | 4–6 | 3–4 | ||||||
| 1993 | Hughes | 6–4 | 4–2 | ||||||
| 1994 | Hughes | 10–4 | 4–2 | ||||||
| 1995 | Hughes | 8–3 | 4–2 | ||||||
| Hughes: | 28–17 | 15–10 | |||||||
| Shiloh Christian Saints () (1996–2000) | |||||||||
| 1996 | Shiloh Christian | 6–6 | 4–0 | 1st | |||||
| 1997 | Shiloh Christian | 14–1 | 3–0 | 1st | |||||
| 1998 | Shiloh Christian | 15–0 | 0–0 | 1st | |||||
| 1999 | Shiloh Christian | 15–0 | 1–0 | 1st | |||||
| 2000 | Shiloh Christian | 13–1–1 | 6–0 | 1st | |||||
| Shiloh Christian: | 63–8–1 | 14–0 | |||||||
| Springdale Bulldogs () (2001–2005) | |||||||||
| 2001 | Springdale | 7–4 | 4–3 | ||||||
| 2002 | Springdale | 12–2 | 6–1 | 1st | |||||
| 2003 | Springdale | 8–4 | 5–2 | ||||||
| 2004 | Springdale | 12–1 | 7–0 | 1st | |||||
| 2005 | Springdale | 14–0 | 7–0 | 1st | |||||
| Springdale: | 53–11 | 29–6 | |||||||
| Total: | 144–36–1 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
Published Works
- The Hurry Up, No Huddle: An Offensive Philosophy (2003) (ISBN: 978-1-585186-54-9)
Personal Life
Malzahn is married and has two children.
