Gus Malzahn Steps Down as UCF Head Coach, to Become Florida State’s Offense Coordinator
After four years at the helm of the UCF Knights, Gus Malzahn has announced his departure as head coach to take on the role of offensive coordinator at Florida State. Malzahn’s final game with the Knights was a 28-14 loss to Utah in the regular season finale.
UCF released a statement thanking Malzahn for his contributions to the program, including its transition into the Big 12 Conference. Malzahn leaves the Knights with a 28-24 record, but the last two seasons have been disappointing, with the team finishing the 2023 regular season with a 6-6 record and this season with a 4-8 record.
Malzahn will replace Alex Atkins, who was fired earlier this month, at Florida State. The Seminoles have struggled offensively this season, ranking 131st out of 134 teams in total offense and scoring offense.
Malzahn spent eight seasons as the head coach of the Auburn Tigers before being dismissed in 2020. He coached the Tigers to the Southeastern Conference title and a berth in the BCS national championship game in 2013.
The Knights’ struggles this season were partly due to quarterback issues, with four players taking snaps from center. The team finished 2-7 in conference play, the program’s worst record since 2015.
In addition to Malzahn’s departure, UCF also parted ways with athletic director Terry Mohajir earlier this month.