Former Auburn head coach brings a championship mindset to Florida State
Former Auburn football head coach Gus Malzahn considered retiring from the game during the offseason, but has found a new home in Tallahassee, Florida instead.
Malzahn was hired by Mike Norvell and Florida State last December after spending the last four seasons as the head coach of UCF, where he won 28 games and led the Knights to three bowl games. However, following a disappointing 4-8 year in 2024, Malzahn jumped at an opportunity to become an offensive coordinator again, a position where he thrived for many seasons.
Norvell spoke on the Malzahn hire during his time at ACC kickoff this week by saying that Malzahn's championship mindset could be a major factor in the Seminoles returning to the College Football Playoff discussion.
"I mean, having the opportunity to have Coach Malzahn come and be a part of our staff, it was special. It's somebody that I've had a 20-year relationship with. All the respect in the world for the man, just the coach. He's somebody that infuses confidence in everybody around him because he knows what he wants to do. He knows what he wants it to look like. It's the belief that he's able to pour into others, for what it takes on that journey. You talk about the perspective; he does. He's been a very successful head football coach. The last time he was an offensive coordinator he did win a National Championship. To make the choice and decision he made to come to Florida State, I mean, that is the purpose. That is the reason."
Malzahn joined the college ranks as an offensive coordinator at Arkansas in 2006, and has held the role at four different programs. His most success came at Auburn, both as a coordinator and a head coach. He was the offensive mastermind behind the 2010 National Championship team that ranked No. 7 in overall yards with 499.2 yards per game, and produced the Heisman Trophy winner in Cam Newton.
Malzahn led the Tigers to the 2013 BCS National Championship Game in his first season as the Tigers' head coach, a season that saw Auburn rank No. 1 in rushing with 328.4 yards per game. Another notable season for Malzahn at Auburn was the 2017 season, where he led Auburn to the SEC Western Division championship and scored wins over Georgia and Alabama when the teams were No. 1. Norvell and the Seminoles will look to Malzahn to bring his offensive expertise to Tallahassee as they look to return to the College Football Playoff for the first time since 2015.
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