Florida State Offensive Coordinator Gus Malzahn Is Retiring From Coaching
After 35 years of pacing sidelines, drawing up plays on napkins, and wearing sweater vests that defied the humid Alabama heat, Gus Malzahn is stepping away. He leaves the game at age 60, just as the transfer portal dust was starting to settle, dropping a retirement announcement that feels both surprising and strangely perfectly timed.
The Decision To Step Away
The writing might have been on the wall when Malzahn left a head coaching gig at UCF to become the offensive coordinator at Florida State. It was a move that scratched heads at the time. Why go from running your own show to calling plays for someone else?
But looking back, it was the first step toward the exit ramp. Malzahn wanted to be closer to family. He wanted to get back to the roots of what he loved, drawing up plays, without the CEO-level headaches of being a modern head coach.
In his statement, Malzahn kept it simple and heartfelt. “After 35 years, it’s time for me to step away from coaching,” he said. “I am excited to spend more time with my family and focus on the next chapter of my life.”
It is a sentiment that resonates. In an era where college football has become a 24/7/365 grind of NIL negotiations and roster management, seeing a legend choose his grandkids over the gridiron is actually pretty refreshing.
From High School Hero To SEC Royalty
To truly understand the legacy of Malzahn, you have to rewind further than Auburn. You have to go back to the high school fields of Arkansas. Before he was giving Nick Saban headaches, Malzahn was a mythical figure at Shiloh Christian and Springdale High.
He wasn’t just winning state titles; he was breaking scoreboards. He was the guy on the other sideline who made you want to forfeit at halftime because his offense was moving faster than your defense could substitute. His 2005 Springdale team might be one of the greatest prep teams ever assembled.
That jump is the stuff of movies. He proved that you didn’t need a pedigree from the NFL coaching tree to dominate; you just needed a scheme that made sense and the guts to run it at warp speed.
The Malzahn Effect: Chaos and Trophies
When we look back at the Malzahn era, we’re going to talk about the chaos. And I mean that as a compliment. His 2013 season at Auburn was arguably the most magical run in the history of the sport. He took a team that had gone 3-9 the year prior and marched them straight to the BCS National Championship Game.
And, of course, there was the Kick Six.
You remember where you were. We all do. Malzahn’s Auburn team stunned Alabama in a way that defied physics and logic. That play alone bought him a lifetime of free drinks in Lee County. But it wasn’t just luck. Malzahn defeated Saban three times during his tenure at Auburn.
A Legacy of Offensive Innovation
Beyond the wins, 105-62 as a head coach, Malzahn changed how the game is played. He was the architect behind Cam Newton’s 2010 Heisman campaign. He didn’t just coach Newton; he built a Ferrari engine around him and let him drive 200 mph. That 14-0 national title run at Auburn was a masterclass in utilizing a generational talent.
Even in his final year at Florida State, the magic was still there. Under his guidance, the Seminoles led the ACC in total offense. He took a roster and immediately made them punchier, faster, and more dangerous.
What’s Next For FSU and the Gus Bus?
For Florida State and Mike Norvell, the show goes on. Tim Harris, a rising star who has been attached to Malzahn’s hip, gets the promotion to offensive coordinator. It’s a natural transition, but those are big shoes to fill.
