UCF releases statement on Gus Malzahn's departure, move to Florida State
Saturday has been jam-packed with college football action during all of the rivalry games. And there’s been plenty of different things happening. One of the biggest pieces of news to drop was the fact that UCF head coach Gus Malzahn stepped down to become the offensive coordinator at Florida State.
The Knights released a statement on his departure and his move to the Seminoles.
“We would like to thank Coach Malzahn for his contributions to our football program over the past four seasons, including our transition into the Big 12 Conference. We appreciate his professionalism and dedication to our student-athletes throughout his tenure at UCF and wish he and his wife, Kristi, the very best in their future endeavors,” the UCF Knights wrote in their statement.
Malzahn took over at UCF in 2021 and found quick success. The Knights finished with nine wins in each of his first two seasons before making the leap to the Big 12, and they went 6-7 a year ago. However, UCF struggled this year with a 4-8 record, leading to questions about Malzahn’s future in Orlando.
Now, he’s reuniting with Norvell. The two worked together at Tulsa, and Malzahn said he “discovered” both him through their connection with Springdale High School in Arkansas. Norvell was a graduate assistant and later worked his way up the coaching ranks and is now at Florida State, which made a slew of staff changes amid a two-win campaign.
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Entering Saturday’s season finale against Florida, Florida State ranked last in the ACC in total offense with 273.1 yards per game. The Seminoles moved on from Alex Atkins and other offensive staffers following a blowout loss to Notre Dame.
Gus Malzahn last worked as an offensive coordinator from 2009-11 at Auburn before he returned to Arkansas as the Arkansas State head coach. Auburn then brought him back as head coach from 2012-20, and he amassed a 68-35 record and took the Tigers to the national championship in his first season at the helm. His departure following a 6-5 record in the COVID-impacted 2020 season took him to UCF to replace Josh Heupel, who took over at Tennessee.
This marks the second straight offseason a sitting Power Conference coach left to become an offensive coordinator. Chip Kelly did so last season, leaving UCLA to take over at Ohio State under Ryan Day.
On3’s Nick Schultz also contributed to this article.