Former Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn announced Monday that he is stepping away from coaching after a 35-year career. Malzahn, 60, spent the 2025 season as Florida State’s offensive coordinator and said the decision was driven by a desire to focus on family and life beyond football.
Malzahn said, “After 35 years, it’s time for me to step away from coaching I am excited to spend more time with my family and focus on the next chapter of my life. I want to thank coach Norvell for giving me the opportunity to coach at such a prestigious program.”
Florida State head coach Mike Norvell promoted co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Tim Harris Jr. to take over the offense following Malzahn’s departure. Norvell said in a statement: “I want to thank coach Malzahn for his effort and dedication to our program over the last 14 months. He did a wonderful job coordinating our offense and calling plays in 2025, and he has set a strong foundation for us to continue building on in 2026 behind the coordination of Tim Harris and the multiple other assistant coaches who are returning. Coach Harris has a complete understanding of the offensive scheme, and his ability to effectively share that knowledge with his players will continue to be a benefit for our offense.”
Malzahn’s coaching journey began at the high school level in Arkansas in the early 1990s, where he found consistent success over more than a decade. He moved into the college ranks in 2006 as Arkansas’ offensive coordinator before holding similar roles at Tulsa and Auburn. His first college head coaching opportunity came in 2012 at Arkansas State, where he led the program to a 9–3 record in a single season.
That success earned Malzahn a return to Auburn, this time as head coach. He made an immediate impact in 2013, guiding the Tigers to a 12–2 season and an appearance in the BCS National Championship Game, where Auburn fell to Florida State. That year, Malzahn collected several top coaching honors, including national and SEC Coach of the Year awards. He finished his Auburn tenure with a 68–35 record across eight seasons, though postseason success proved elusive.
After being dismissed by Auburn during the 2020 season, Malzahn spent four years leading Central Florida before resigning in 2024 to join Florida State’s staff. His lone season in Tallahassee marked a dramatic offensive turnaround. The Seminoles improved from one of the lowest-scoring teams in the country to ranking 22nd nationally in points per game, averaging 33 points. They also led the ACC in total and rushing offense, posting more than 470 yards per game overall.
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