Gus Malzahn

Arthur Gustav Malzahn III (born October 28, 1965 in Irvine, Texas) is the current head coach of the Auburn Tigers football team. He is respected as an offensive innovator and credited with helping develop the "wildcat" and "hurry up no huddle" offenses.

Malzahn graduated from Fort Smith Christian High School in Fort Smith, Arkansas in 1984 and was a walk-on receiver for the Arkansas Razorbacks under then-head coach Ken Hatfield. After one season he transferred to Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, where he was a two-year letterman and earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education in 1990.

Malzahn got his first coaching job as a defensive coordinator at Hughes High School in 1991. He became head coach in 1992 and, two years later, reached the state championship game with an upset of Pine Bluff Dollarway. Hughes fell just short in the title game, losing to Lonoke on an interception in the final minute.

His success at Hughes and his wide-open attack landed Malzahn a head coaching position at Shiloh Christian in 1996. Over the next four years, Malzahn transformed Saints into one of the most dynamic offenses in the nation. In 1998, Shiloh Christian quarterback Josh Floyd racked up 5,878 total yards and 66 passing touchdowns. Malzahn guided the Saints to back-to-back state championships in 1998 and 1999.

In 2001, Malzahn took over for legendary coach Jarrell Williams at Springdale High School. He led the program to two state championship game appearances in his last four years, winning the 5A title with a 54-20 victory over West Memphis in 2005.

Included on the championship team were prize recruits who all eventually joined their coach at the University of Arkansas.

Malzahn joined Houston Nutt's staff at the University of Arkansas on December 9, 2005, as offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. Four of his former Springdale stars; quarterback Mitch Mustain, tight end Ben Cleveland, and wide receivers Andrew Norman and Damian Williams, signed with the Razorbacks.

The 2006 Razorbacks won the Southeastern Conference's western division championship, but finished the season with back-to-back losses to LSU and Florida, then lost to Wisconsin in the Capital One Bowl to finish with a 10-4 record. Malzahn was named National Offensive Coordinator of the Year by Rivals.com. However his relationship with Nutt was strained and when new Tulsa Golden Hurricanes head coach Todd Graham offered him a job at the University of Tulsa, Malzahn accepted. Mustain and Williams followed him to Tulsa.

During the 2007 season, Malzahn's offense ranked first in the nation in total yards and third in passing. At the end of the season, he interviewed for the vacancy at Arkansas left by Houston Nutt's resignation, but was passed over in favor of Bobby Petrino.

Malzahn's 2008 Hurricanes offense again led the nation with 7,980 yards. On December 28, 2008 Malzahn was hired as offensive coordinator under Gene Chizik for the Auburn Tigers. Over the next three years the Tigers enjoyed greatly improved offensive production, increasing average scoring from 20 to 33 points per game. Senior quarterback Chris Todd set Auburn's single-season touchdown record with 22 scores. In Malzahn's second year with the offense, the 2010 Auburn Tigers football team went undefeated and won a BCS National Championship with Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Cam Newton. Malzahn won that year's Frank Broyles Award for the nation's top assistant coach. He was also recognized for his recruiting successes by ESPN.

Malzahn accepted the head coaching position at Arkansas State after the 2011 season. He led the Red Wolves to a Sun Belt Conference championship during his one-year tenure. On December 4, 2012 Malzahn was announced as Auburn's head coach, replacing Chizik after a 3-9 season. He brought Ellis Johnson and Rhett Lashlee with him as defensive and offensive coordinators.

The 2013 Tigers offense, led by quarterback Nick Marshall, accomplished an unprecedented turnaround, tying the 2013 Alabama Crimson Tide for the SEC's western division, and breaking the tie with a last-second comeback in the 2013 Iron Bowl, then winning the SEC Championship Game against the Missouri Tigers. The Tigers ultimately fell to the Florida State Seminoles and Heisman-winning quarterback Jameis Winstin in the BCS Championship Game, 34-31, in Pasadena, California.

Malzahn won six "Coach of the Year" awards. He edged out Duke's David Cutcliffe for the Associated Press honor and was also given the Paul "Bear" Bryant Award and the Bobby Bowden Collegiate Coach of the Year Award by Birmingham's Over the Mountain Touchdown Club.

Malzahn's 2014 team began the season 5-0 with wins of then #20 Kansas State and then #15 LSU, but lost 38-23 at #3-ranked Mississippi State on October 11. After two more victories, including a road win against #7 Ole Miss, Auburn finished out the regular season 1-3, including a 55-44 loss in the high-scoring 2014 Iron Bowl in Tuscaloosa.

As of December 2014, Malzahn's Division I college coaching record stands at 29-9.

Malzahn is married to Kristi Otwell Malzahn and together they have two daughters, Kylie and Kenzie.

Preceded by: Tony Franklin	Auburn Tigers Offensive Coordinator 2009-2011	Succeeded by: Scott Loeffler
Preceded by: Gene Chizik	Auburn University Head Coach 2013–	Succeeded by: Current

Publications

• Malzahn, Gus (January 2003) Hurry Up No Huddle — An Offensive Philosophy. Monterey, California: Coaches Choice Books. ISBN 9781585186549

References

• "Gus Malzahn" (December 1, 2014) Wikipedia - accessed December 5, 2014

External links

• Gus Malzahn at auburntigers.com