Is Gus Malzahn The Right Coach For Auburn?

Malzahn and Auburn

The Auburn Tigers and the Arkansas Razorbacks were both looking for a head coach. At some point they were both probably looking at the same guy. They were looking at a man who had found nothing but success at every stop. Gus Malzahn had a history with both schools. If both universities had wanted him, it would have seemed Arkansas would've been his next stop. He was not only born and raised there, but in 1984 he walked on to the Razorback football team. His first experience as a college football coach would also come at Arkansas in 2006.

Where had the pinnacle of his success come from? So far that would've been at Auburn in 2010. So it wasn't completely shocking that he would have chosen the Tigers over the Razorbacks. He's been at both schools and clearly he knew which of the two he'd rather be at. The last three head coaches that preceded Malzahn have all had undefeated records at Auburn. (Bowden 1993, Tuberville 2004, and Chizik 2010) It's not difficult to believe that Gus Malzahn will do so as well.

Frazier and Wallace

The hurry-up no-huddle offense that Malzahn believes in and runs was successful for Auburn in 2010. It has been successful everywhere it has been implemented. He runs a style of offense that is based on having the right athletes in place. The best thing you can say about coach Malzahn is that the players want to play for him. There are two quarterbacks at Auburn right now who are made for his offense. Mobility is key for a QB in Malzahn's offense. He has two mobile QB's right now in Kiehl Frazier and Jonathan Wallace.

The one thing that everyone says about Gus is that he's passionate about the game. Both coaches and players. His game has always been to spread them out and attack them quick. With the right players I think he will have incredible amounts of success. The system he runs has continuously won games everywhere he's gone. His attention to the smallest details allow him to win with less than the best players.



Watch the videos and notice how well he teaches these plays. I can see exactly why players want to learn from him.

I truly believe that this is what brought Auburn the National Championship in 2010. The plays are not all as simple as the two above, however I think his clean and clear approach in explaining the smallest details make the biggest difference. His players have a full understanding of how and why things works.




Success At Every Stop

Hughes (AR) HS  - Made it to the championship game in 1992 and 1994. 


Shiloh Christian (AR) HS (1996–2000) - Malzahn guided the Saints to back-to-back state championships in 1998 and 1999.

Springdale (AR) HS (2001-2005) -  Malzahn's 2005 squad at Springdale went 14–0, easily won the state’s Class 5A championship, outscoring their opponents 664–118, including a 54–20 victory over West Memphis in the championship game.

Arkansas (OC /WR) 2006 - Lost the Capital One Bowl and finished the season 10-4.

Tulsa (co-OC/AHC/QB) 2007-2008
      2007 - Tulsa ranked 1st in the nation in total yards per game
      2008 - Tulsa was again leading the nation with 7,980 total yards of offense averaging 570 yards per game.

Auburn (OC/QB) - 2010 BCS National Championship and Heisman Award winner Cam Newton.

Arkansas State (HC) 2012 - Conference Championship win over Middle Tennessee State, 45-0. Final record 9-3.