Provoking nostalgia, a photo hangs in Gus Malzahn’s new office, capturing the moment Kelvin Benjamin secured a touchdown pass from Jameis Winston, which ultimately led to Florida State’s triumph over Malzahn and his Auburn Tigers in the 2013 national championship game.
This image serves as a constant reminder of Malzahn’s deep-rooted ties to the Seminoles.
“Every day as I walk to my office, I pass by the picture of that catch,” Malzahn shared on Wednesday. “That game was truly memorable because it featured a plethora of outstanding athletes and reached a thrilling conclusion. Watching it was probably captivating, but being on the losing side was undeniably challenging.”
Now, Malzahn finds himself in a different role. Having resigned from his head coaching position at UCF last month, he has transitioned to serve as the offensive coordinator under Mike Norvell in Tallahassee. Their professional relationship dates back even prior to Malzahn’s title match against the Seminoles.
The 59-year-old coach explained that he prioritized returning to his coaching roots rather than continuing as a head coach, which has become heavily burdened by newer responsibilities. Opting for a lifestyle change, Malzahn walked away from a guaranteed $15 million contract—he was scheduled to earn $5 million in 2025 and had three years left on his deal with the Knights—to join FSU on a three-year agreement worth $1.5 million for the 2025 season.
“The landscape for head college football coaches has dramatically evolved over the past two years with changes concerning the transfer portal, collectives, agents, and more,” Malzahn stated. “I consider myself an old-school coach who genuinely enjoys the game of football. It often becomes difficult for head coaches to commit to the sport entirely, which influenced my decision.”
“Additionally, the chance to collaborate with Mike, alongside my profound respect for this institution—I have faced off against this university in a national championship and understand its significant potential—assured me this was the right move.”
Throughout his coaching career, starting from a high school position in Arkansas and including head positions at Arkansas State, Auburn, and UCF, Malzahn has enjoyed notable success. Under his leadership, the Knights achieved nine wins in both 2021 and 2022 while competing in the American Athletic Conference, before they transitioned into the Big 12, where they finished 6-7 last year and 4-8 this season.
Malzahn’s offensive acumen previously led Auburn to a national title as its offensive coordinator in 2010, and the 2013 season nearly paved the way for another championship. Now, he is in Tallahassee with the mission of revitalizing a historic program that has encountered difficulties in recent times.
Malzahn was part of the coaching staff at Tulsa that brought Norvell onboard as a graduate assistant in 2007. Though their collaboration was brief, they have maintained a strong relationship over the years.
Malzahn’s new role entails enhancing an offense that has struggled, ranking among the least effective in major college football this past season, with an average of just 15.4 points per game, placing them 131st out of 134 teams.
“I firmly believe that establishing a reliable running game is crucial,” Malzahn emphasized. “It boosts everything else, from pass protection to giving the quarterback better chances. We will make that happen.”
In this transition, Malzahn will assume the primary play-calling duties, stepping into a vital role previously held by Norvell.
“Our offensive foundation is rooted in the same principles,” Malzahn explained. “While Mike has his unique touches and I have mine, a lot of our methods are in sync. We maintain similar terminology when identifying formations and player alignments.”
“This makes the transition remarkably seamless. Our approach will be to play at a rapid pace—that’s our cornerstone strategy. Speed will be our main focus.”
Additionally, on the same day, Thomas Castellanos, a former Boston College quarterback, announced his commitment to the Seminoles via social media. He still has one year of eligibility left.