Gus Malzahn Hired as Auburn's New Football Coach - East Idaho News
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Gus Malzahn Hired as Auburn’s New Football Coach

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Getty Gus Malzahn?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1354693347577Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images(AUBURN, Ala.) — A familiar face is returning to Auburn’s football program. Gus Malzahn, who served as Auburn’s offensive coordinator during the team’s 2010 national championship season, has been hired as head football coach.

Malzahn coached the past season at Arkansas State, leading the team to a 9-3 record and a trip to the GoDaddy.com Bowl.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to become the head football coach at Auburn,” Malzahn said in a statement. “It’s an outstanding institution with a storied football program that I had the pleasure of experiencing first-hand for three years. I deeply appreciate the confidence that Dr. [Jay] Gogue, Jay Jacobs [athletic director] and the search committee had in my ability to turn this program around and to bring Auburn back to national prominence. This is a homecoming for me and I look forward to being reunited with the Auburn family.”

Malzahn replaces Gene Chizik, who was fired after guiding the Tigers to a 3-9 season.

The 47-year-old Malzahn takes over an Auburn team that ranked 115th in total offense this season.

“Gus Malzahn is a proven winner,” Jacobs said. “He is without question one of the brightest minds in college football and he has won everywhere he has been. Coach Malzahn knows what it takes to build a championship program in the Southeastern Conference. He knows our state and region and he understands what it will take to turn our program around.”

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