Gus Malzahn explains back-and-forth decision on play-calling duties

At the beginning of last season, UCF coach Gus Malzahn made the decision to give up play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Darin Hinshaw. However, midway through the year he changed his mind.

The Knights struggled early on in their first season as a member of the Big 12, going 0-5 to start conference play. Malzahn knew it wasn’t working and felt taking back the play-calling role could be beneficial for the team.

It turned out he was right, as UCF went 3-1 over its final four Big 12 games to achieve bowl eligibility. Now heading into 2024, Malzahn is expected to remain the play caller for the Knights’ offense.

Speaking with On3‘s Andy Staples, he admitted that he originally thought giving up play-calling would help him focus on other aspects of being a head coach. In the end, though, he rediscovered his love for being the one to make the crucial decisions.

“In the last two-and-a-half or three years, college football has changed so much,” Malzahn said. “Just from a head coach’s standpoint, there’s so much on the head coach now with the one-time transfer, the portal, the NIL fundraising and everything that goes with it. So from a common sense standpoint, especially at a place like this, we’re a young school and I’ve gotta also be a fundraiser. So that was the thinking. But by halfway through, as a head coach, I’m always gonna do what’s best for our team to be successful.

“I took back over and I’m gonna do it. The bottom line is, that’s what I love to do. You adjust. I think every head coach right now is going through some adjustment with the new age of college football.”

Malzahn called the plays for his first two seasons at UCF prior to ceding the role to Hinshaw. He also went back-and-forth between calling the plays and letting his offensive coordinator do so during his eight seasons at Auburn. Now he seems content to admit this is what he enjoys and is how the Knights will operate for the foreseeable future.

Some coaches do well with handing over play-calling, but Gus Malzahn doesn’t seem to be one of them. He pointed to two of his former assistants turned head coaches, Eli Drinkwitz and Mike Norvell, as examples. Drinkwitz seems content not to call plays at Missouri, while Norvell thrives doing so at Florida State.

“Those guys are excellent play callers,” Malzahn said. “Some of the best in the country. It worked for Eli, there’s no doubt. I know he still had a good hand on what’s going on. But that league, being a head coach in that league, it’s a monster now. There’s so much more to it than some other leagues. Mike, you could tell as a GA he’s brilliant. He’s so calm under pressure and he’s one of the best that’s doing it these days.”

With the plan set for 2024, Malzahn will hope to build upon UCF’s strong finish to 2023. The Knights are set to kick off this upcoming season against New Hampshire on Aug. 29.