A prominent former SEC head coach has announced his retirement from college football.
Gus Malzahn, who led the Auburn Tigers to the national championship game in 2013, is stepping down as Florida State offensive coordinator and retiring from coaching. In a statement, Malzahn said he was “excited to spend more time with my family and focus on what the Lord is calling me to do next.”
— Coach Gus Malzahn (@CoachGusMalzahn) February 2, 2026
Malzahn, 60, was at one point viewed as one of college football’s leading offensive minds. He burst onto the scene in 2013 at Auburn, where his team went 12-2 and suffered a narrow three-point loss in the national championship game. Malzahn’s Auburn team authored several famous moments, including the memorable “Kick Six” against Alabama to win the Iron Bowl.
Malzahn struggled to maintain that level of success, though he did go 68-35 overall at Auburn. He then went 28-24 in four seasons at UCF before wrapping up his career with one year as Florida State’s offensive coordinator.
In addition to his college success, Malzahn was a hugely successful high school coach in Arkansas. His offensive philosophy has become widely influential, even in the NFL, where some of his hurry-up offense ideas are used regularly.
