Gus Malzahn Retires After 35 Years in Coaching

On Monday, Florida State’s offensive coordinator and former Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn announced his retirement from coaching after 35 years in the profession.

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"After 35 years, it's time for me to step away from coaching," Malzahn said in a statement. "I am excited to spend more time with my family and focus on the next chapter of my life."

He started his career with 15 seasons coaching high school football in his home state of Arkansas, during which Malzahn became one of just two coaches in the state to lead three different schools to a state title appearance.

Malzahn joined the collegiate coaching ranks in 2006, serving as Arkansas’s offensive coordinator. In 2007, he took over as Tulsa’s offensive coordinator, where, under his leadership for two seasons, the Golden Hurricanes were the nation’s most prolific offense, with the 2007 Tulsa team being the first offense to have a 5,000-yard passer, a 1,000-yard rusher, and three 1,000-yard receivers in a single season.

In 2009, Malzahn became Auburn’s offensive coordinator under former Tigers head coach Gene Chizik, where Malzahn would go to spend three seasons on his staff while contributing to the 2010 national championship team, and coaching the 2010 Heisman winner Cam Newton, while also being given the Broyles Award in 2010, which is awarded to the college football’s top assistants.

Malzahn left Chizik’s staff in 2011 to take his first head coaching opportunity at Arkansas State in 2012. After one season with the Red Wolves, Malzahn returned to Auburn, where he took over as the Tigers’ new head coach in 2013.

He spent eight years as the Tigers' head coach, posting a 68-35 record and leading Auburn to eight bowl game appearances, a conference championship, and a BCS National Championship appearance in his first season in 2013. That year, Malzahn was also recognized as the SEC Coach of the Year and the AP College Football Coach of the Year.

After Malzahn was fired by the Tigers in 2020, he immediately took over as head coach for Central Florida, where he spent four seasons with the Knights before leaving the program in 2024 and joining Mike Norvell’s staff at Florida State.

In Malzahn's one season at Florida State, the Seminoles offense led the ACC in total and rushing offense, with Florida State averaging 472.1 yards per game and 218.7 rushing yards per game.

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