Gus Malzahn has announced his resignation from the position of head coach at Central Florida to accept the role of offensive coordinator at Florida State, according to a source familiar with the situation.
This information was shared on the condition of anonymity, as the Seminoles have yet to officially confirm Malzahn’s appointment, which is still subject to a state background check.
The news was first reported by ESPN, while UCF released a statement confirming Malzahn’s departure just one day after the Knights concluded their season with a 28-14 defeat against Utah.
In their statement, the university expressed gratitude for Malzahn’s contributions over the last four years, especially during their transition into the Big 12 Conference.
They acknowledged his professionalism and dedication to the student-athletes and wished him and his wife, Kristi, all the best for the future.
Over his four-year tenure at UCF, Malzahn achieved a record of 28 wins and 24 losses, with the last two seasons yielding below .500 records after joining the Big 12 conference.
Prior to his time at UCF, he spent eight seasons as head coach at Auburn before being let go in 2020.
Malzahn is set to fill the position vacated by Alex Atkins, who was both the offensive coordinator and offensive line coach before his dismissal following a disastrous 52-3 loss to Notre Dame on November 10.
The Seminoles have struggled mightily on offense this season, ranking 131st out of 134 teams in total offense and scoring, managing an average of only 15.8 points per game heading into their rivalry match against Florida.
The team has faced a stark decline this season, finishing with a 2-9 record after a successful previous season where they went 13-1 and secured the Atlantic Coast Conference championship.
For Malzahn, the fourth season at UCF has been particularly challenging, largely due to ongoing quarterback issues, with multiple players taking snaps throughout the year.
The Knights concluded the season with a troubling 2-7 record in conference play, showcasing their worst performance since going winless (0-12) in George O’Leary’s final season in 2015.
In light of the disappointing outcome of the current season, Florida State’s head coach Mike Norvell also made changes to his coaching staff, firing Atkins, defensive coordinator Adam Fuller, and receivers coach Ron Dugans amid a series of defeats.
