Describing himself as an “old-school football coach,” Guz Malzahn said he resigned from leading UCF’s program to become Florida State’s offensive coordinator due to the recent changes in a college head coach’s job description.
Malzahn, 59, was set to make $15 million over the next three seasons at the helm of the Knights, but instead left to take a three-year deal with the Seminoles and will earn $1.5 million next season. Scott Frost returned to UCF last weekend to replace Malzahn.
“The job description of a head college football coach has changed dramatically in the last two years with everything — transfer portal to collectives to agents and everything that goes with that,” Malzahn said. “I’m just an old-school football coach.
“I love coaching football, and head coaches, it’s hard to do that a lot. So that had something to do with it. And then the opportunity and being familiar with (Florida State head coach) Mike (Norvell) and having so much respect for this university, coached against this university in the national championship. I know what this place is capable of doing.”
Back in 2007, Malzhan was on the Tulsa staff when Norvell joined as a graduate assistant, and the two formed a bond despite only working together for two seasons.
At Florida State, Malzahn will replace Norvell as the primary signalcaller for an offense that ranked 131st out of 134 schools in points per game (15.4) in 2024.
“Our foundation on offense is from the same family,” Malzahn said. “He’s got his own wrinkles, and I’ve had my own wrinkles. But there is a lot more things that are in common. We still have the same terminology, the way we identify things like formations and player alignment, numbers.
“That’s why it’s a really, really easy transition. We’re going to play fast. I think that’s the No. 1 thing. We’re going to play fast.”
Malzahn is 105-62 in 13 seasons as a head coach, highlighted by a 68-35 mark in eight seasons at Auburn — which included a BCS title game appearance in 2013. He served as offensive coordinator and play caller when the Tigers won the national title in 2010.
In his 19 seasons as a college head coach or offensive coordinator, Malzahn’s teams have averaged 447.7 yards per game, and three of his teams eclipsed 7,000 yards in a season.
“I’m a big believer you got to run the football downhill,” he said. “It makes everything better as far as pass protection, better on the quarterback, everything. … And we’ll get that done.”
–Field Level Media