Auburn University has hired Gus Malzahn

[RedEyed Duck]

AUBURN, Ala. (WHNT) – According to multiple reports, Auburn University has hired Gus Malzahn as the school’s new head football coach.
Auburn University has not confirmed these reports at this time.
Malzahn previously held the Offensive Coordinator job at Auburn from 2009-2011. He left Auburn after the 2011 season to become the head coach at Arkansas State.
Malzahn replaces Gene Chizik who was fired on November 25th after Auburn went 3-9, and 0-8 in SEC play.
Chizik hired Malzahn as Offensive Coordinator on December 28, 2008.
Malzahn led Arkansas State to a 9-3 record in 2012.

http://whnt.com/2012/12/04/breaking-rep ... ead-coach/

[Deltamud77]

Good hire...

[thcobb1]

FIRE JAY JACOBS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey hey, ho ho, Jay Jacobs has got too go!!!!!

[webbmaster]

Good news.....Auburn can remain a Family.

[skywalker]

hmm..... Doesn't seem like a home run hire at all...........oh well. How do you Auburn faithful really feel about this hire?

[Plainsman04]

I wouldn't say it's a home run hire, but really, what would've qualified for that designation with anybody?

For me it's about a 6 on a scale of 1-10, with the right to reserve final judgment no earlier than Dec. 1, 2013. I think this thing could tip either way and I think it all hinges on 3 things, in this order:
1) Discipline. Some players need to be dismissed. Ultimatums need to be made. Players must respect & trust the coaches.
2) Find a competent, hopefully standout, QB. Freshman or JUCO. Just somebody that doesn't play scared. Jonathan Wallace showed some flashes but he's too young to really tell anything.
3) Find a MLB that's a legitimate SEC caliber player. Might have one in Casanova McKinzy but again, too young to tell.

If those 3 points go unanswered then Auburn will be looking for another coach again sooner rather than later. I think Malzahn can do it. He's got the smarts and energy to get it done, but a lot of that is going to depend on what kind of staff he puts together.

[mshunter77]

I think it is a good hire. He is a guy recruits will be excited about playing for. Auburn has a lot of talent on the OL they are just young and should be much better over the next two years. I think he can hide the weakness at QB until he finds or develops one. The key will be hiring a good DC. Ellis Johnson would not be a bad hire here. Not sure how his relationship is with Trooper but he could keep him on and probably be able to keep all the current recruits.

[ScottyLee]

the hire sealed the deal with jeremy johnson coming there.. he's your next cam newton if there is a such thing

[augustus_65]

I agree with Plainsmans assessment. Not extremely excited about the hire but not upset either. Gus has the potential to be a great head coach but it will require a great staff. Ellis Johnson's name is already floating around for DC. Not really enthused about that possibility. If Charlie Strong is hired at UT, I think Trooper is going to Knoxville.

[webbmaster]

Apparently Kirby Smart wanted 3 things.

- The details of the NCAA investigation
- Full control of hires
- To be able to coach in the BCS game.

Very wise move on his part. I can understand them not wanting him to coach in BCS game.

http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/index. ... cart_river

Question: If Aubrun is clear of any wrongdoings, what do they have to hide?

Same ole same ole in Aubrun...

Congrats on the hire!!

[Po Monkey Lounger]

I think Malzahn is a good hire by Auburn. He will need to be paired with a solid DC and experienced staff.

His firing of all of the old staff could signal a couple of things, both good and bad. First the good. This looks like a significant break from the Lowder influence, which I had previously indicated needed to happen at Auburn. But, now the bad. This could signal that the NCAA problems are significant and Auburn needs a clean and complete break from the former staff as it moves forward dealing with these issues. And then again, Malzahn may not have got along well with any of the old staff.

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out. The details of Malzahn's contract could offer more clues.

With the right QB, Malzahn will likely have a potent offense. Not sure if that QB is on campus right now. From what I saw this season, I would say not.

[bigoak]

Apparently Kirby Smart wanted 3 things.

- The details of the NCAA investigation
- Full control of hires
- To be able to coach in the BCS game.

Very wise move on his part. I can understand them not wanting him to coach in BCS game.

http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/index. ... cart_river

Question: If Aubrun is clear of any wrongdoings, what do they have to hide?

Same ole same ole in Aubrun...

Congrats on the hire!!

That article also says that Petrino lobbied hard to get an interview. Even offered for him and his wife (did not know they had worked things out) to meet with the search committee at his expense. Auburn declined to even interview him. Pretty interesting.

[Plainsman04]

I think Malzahn is a good hire by Auburn. He will need to be paired with a solid DC and experienced staff.

His firing of all of the old staff could signal a couple of things, both good and bad. First the good. This looks like a significant break from the Lowder influence, which I had previously indicated needed to happen at Auburn. But, now the bad. This could signal that the NCAA problems are significant and Auburn needs a clean and complete break from the former staff as it moves forward dealing with these issues. And then again, Malzahn may not have got along well with any of the old staff.

It will be interesting to see how this all plays out. The details of Malzahn's contract could offer more clues.

With the right QB, Malzahn will likely have a potent offense. Not sure if that QB is on campus right now. From what I saw this season, I would say not.

I think the whole staff was released (fired) in an effort to clean house and start over. Also shows the players he means business. I still wouldn't be surprised to see some of them back with the new staff. Signals to me that he's going to give the coordinators some pretty good latitude to hire position coaches. I would like to see Boulware back. I think Martinez did pretty good in his first year as DB coach also. It was just hard to see because the team as a whole was soooooo horrible.

Ellis Johnson is the new DC.

[Deltamud77]

That article also says that Petrino lobbied hard to get an interview. Even offered for him and his wife (did not know they had worked things out) to meet with the search committee at his expense. Auburn declined to even interview him. Pretty interesting.

Word on the street is that Slive has warned all SEC ADs that Petrino is off limits. It makes you wonder if there was even more behind the scenes information that never came out about ol' Bobby.