Posts Tagged ‘gus malzahn’

USC: Lane Kiffin said earlier today that Ed Orgeron's new title will be assistant head coach / recruiting coordinator / defensive line. 

Auburn: Jay Jacobs (AD) says Gus Malzahn will have a five year agreement at $2.3 million per year. 

Georgia State: Trent Miles will have four Indiana State coaches join him on the staff at Georgia State (reported in the AJC and confirmed by us). Jesse Minter (defensive coordinator), PJ Volker (linebackers), Shannon Jackson (defensive line) and Harold Etheridge (offensive line). Sources tell us there is a good possibility that Jeff Jagodzinski joins the staff as offensive coordinator but that has not been finalized at this time. 

Tulsa: Athletic director Ross Parmley has been fired. 

Sioux Falls (D-II - SD): Sources tell us head coach Jed Stugart plans to fill the defensive coordinator position internally. 

Alabama: Sources tell us Kirby Smart agreed to a new agreement today with Alabama after receiving an offer from Auburn. Will update with details once they are made public. 

Purdue: Sources close to the situation tell us that Kent State head coach Darrell Hazell is expected to be the next head coach at Purdue. The deal is expected to be finalized tonight. Update> We've seen a report that the deal has stalled. We have not confirmed. Further Update> Bruce Feldman of CBS Sports is now confirming our original report that Hazell is expected to be named head coach. 

Boston College: SI just reported that Temple head coach Steve Addazio will be named head coach at Boston College. We have now confirmed the hire. Team meetings ongoing now. Here's what you need to know.

Excellent news: Apple has pushed "The Coach Tracker" app into iTunes. It's available now! Every coach needs this.

West Virginia State (D-II): West Virginia State has hired Sioux Falls (S.D.) defensive coordinator Jon Anderson as its head coach. 

Auburn: AStateNation is reporting that Gus Malzahn has now accepted the head coaching job at Auburn. We have confirmed. Here's what you need to know.

Arkansas: Yahoo Sports has broken news that Bret Bielema has accepted the head job at Arkansas. We have confirmed the hire. Bielema told his staff about one hour ago and we are told he did not make any promises about going down to Arkansas with him. Here's what you need to know.

UConn: Athletic director Warde Manuel said today that Paul Pasqualoni will return; but added that changes will be made. We'll keep you posted. 

Baylor: Multiple sources are reporting that Art Briles has agreed to an extension at Baylor. ESPN has confirmed. 

Pretty good day for Bob Diaco. This morning he was announced as FootballScoop Defensive Coordinator of the Year, this afternoon he won the Broyles Award. 

Auburn: Sources close to the situation tell us Auburn's interest in Kirby Smart is very sincere. This one could play very soon. Update> Multiple sources tell us Auburn is working on an agreement with Kirby. Will update...

Boston College: Mark Blaudschun reports that BC is down to three finalists: Bob Diaco, New Orleans Saints offensive line coach Aaron Kromer and Ball State head coach Pete Lembo. We have not confirmed this report. Update> Sources tell us Pete Lembo should not be considered a finalist. 

Oakland Raiders: Head coach Dennis Allen's father has passed away. Please keep their famiy in your prayers. 

Kentucky: Mark Stoops will meet with Texas Tech offensive coordinator Neal Brown today. 

UCLA: FoxSports has reported what we've been telling you guys all along...that Jim Mora isn't leaving UCLA. Fox says he declined interview requests from both Tennessee and Auburn. 

West Viriginia State (D-II): Look for West Virginia State to announce their new head coach later today. We will update once it's public. 

Colorado: Sources tell us Colorado's offer to Butch Jones was six years, $15 million...fully guaranteed! 

Very proud to report that yesterday was the largest day the site has ever had! Thank you.

Every coach needs this> The Coach Tracker app for Android and iPhones provides immediate access to the cell phone, office phone, email, twitter handle, etc...of over 15,000 high school coaches. Click here to see the power of the app! 

Butch Jones: Sources close to the situation tell us that Jones was very impressed with the visit he had with Colorado yesterday. However, he remains undecided at this point. Jones will meet with the media for the Belk Bowl press conference at 1pm ET. We believe that it is very possible that Jones could announce his decision at that time.  Update> We are told no "job discussion" at the Bowl presser. Look for a decision later tonight...or possibly tomorrow.

South Florida: Fox Sports is reporting that Houston Nutt will interview for the head coaching job. Sources tell us that there is tremendous interest in this job.

Langston University (NAIA - OK): Langston University is looking to fill 4 football Graduate Assistant positions (receivers, linebackers, defensive backs and film specialist) for the 2013 football season.  Head Coach Dwone Sanders is seeking disciplined and knowledgeable candidates with coaching aspirations.  Those selected for these positions will be working under a dedicated staff with Division I-Football coaching experience.  Included in the Graduate Assistant package are tuition costs, as well as room and board.   Please have a copy of GRE test results, as well as official undergraduate transcripts ready to submit to Coach Sanders. Please email resumes to Sports Information Director Daniel Garrett at: danielmgarrett@gmail.com.  Coach Sanders will contact qualified applicants as resumes are submitted.

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Mass Maritime Academy (D-III): Mass Maritime, located on Cape Cod, is looking for a scrimmage for the upcoming 2013 season. They have a week 1 bye so dates are flexible and are willing to play a D2 or D3 program. If interested, please contact Head Football Coach Jeremy Cameron via email, jcameron@maritime.edu or phone, 508-830-5072.

Gus Malzahn's first words as the head coach at Auburn were the only words they could be, "War Eagle!"

Malzahn came across confident and ready to take the reins of the Auburn press conference on Tuesday night, gripping the podium like he was watching a 3rd-and-goal. Malzahn leaves behind a 9-3 Arkansas State team headed to the GoDaddy.com Bowl. He said he had not yet spoken with the Arkansas State adminstration but added, "I'm 100 percent committed to Auburn and getting this thing going as soon as possible."

The credentials Malzahn brings to the job are unique. On one hand, he had a very successful run as the offensive coordinator at Auburn that ended less than 365 days ago. On the other hand, he takes over a BCS program just seven years after breaking into college football for the first time.

Malzahn thinks he is ready for the high stakes that come with the Auburn job, saying that his time at the high school level prepared him for the task of being a head coach on game day. "For college football, it's the off the field that you've got to get used to," said Malzahn. "Being a head football coach is very natural to me."

Malzhan very quickly laid out his vision for how Auburn will be constructed under his watch. "We will have a up tempo, fast-paced offense," he said. "We will run the ball, that will be our staple. We will be attacking in all areas. We will be multiple up front. I think you've got to do both, odd and even. That's what gives offenses trouble."

Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs stated that Malzahn will receive a five-year, $11.5 million contract. 

It strikes me that $2.3 M salary for Gus allows a good bit of room for assistants...

— FootballScoop Staff (@footballscoop) December 5, 2012

Who exactly will assist him is an issue Malzahn will be patient on. "I'm going to take my time find the right person, wherever he is," Malzahn explained. "I'm going to get the best fit for Auburn. No matter if it's guys that are here, guys that were (at Arkansas State), or guys elsewhere."

Malzahn's familiarity with the roster, he recruited all of the upperclassmen, will certainly allow him to hit the ground running. "I think it's a huge advantage," Malzahn said of his working knowledge with the roster. "Not only the offensive guys but the defensive guys, I'm very familiar with them."

Malzahn is very familiar with Auburn, its resources and, most importantly, its expectations. Like everything else he does in coaching, Malzahn attacked those expectations aggressively, stating, "My goal is to get Auburn back to a championship level." 

Within minutes of each other, we learned that Bret Bielema will leave Wisconsin for Arkansas and Gus Malzahn will depart Arkansas State and return to Auburn. Bielema's move to Arkansas is widely considered the most stunning news of the coaching change season, and Malzahn to Auburn is the least stunning.

Beilema went 68-24 in seven seasons in Madison, leading the Badgers to an unprecedented three straight Rose Bowls. Beilema's teams are known for a thunderous, straight ahead running game which figures to be in lock-step with he dominant teams of the SEC but in conflict with the team built by former Razorbacks coach Bobby Petrino. 

Lest we forget, however, that Bielema rose through the ranks as a defensive coach, coaching linebackers at Iowa and as a defensive coordinator at Kansas State and Wisconsin before his promotion to head coach. The Badgers ranked 13th nationally in total defense and 19th in scoring defense, allowing just 19.1 points per game. Wisconsin was eighth in total defense and sixth in scoring defense during its 11-2 season in 2011. Even if the offensive transition goes through some growing pains, Bielema figures to improve an Arkansas defense that ranked 12th in the SEC in total defense and scoring defense this fall. 

Meanwhile, SEC West foe Auburn is bringing Gus Malzahn back to the Plains. Malzahn famously served as the Tigers' offensive coordinator from 2009-11, where his work with Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton brought Auburn the 2010 national title. Malzahn spent the 2012 season as the head coach at Arkansas State, where he led the Red Wolves to a 9-3 record and Sun Belt championship. 

Malzahn's return to Auburn figures to be a boon for Auburn quarterback Kiehl Frazier. Recruited to be Newton's successor, Frazier struggled in Malzahn's absence, completing just 62-of-116 passes for 753 yards with 2 TDs and 8 INTs. The TIgers were ranked 115th in total offense and 112th in scoring offense this fall, while Arkansas State placed 17th in total offense and 21st in scoring offense. 

Love the attitude of Gus' staff up at A-State. They are happy; but all business. Keep recruiting, focus on the players, etc…Good guys

— FootballScoop Staff (@footballscoop) December 4, 2012

We will update with more details as they become available. 

Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Todd Monken talked about the process of coordinators moving up one chair to the head coaching spot with the media yesterday. He had a lot to say. 

“It’s hard enough to get a head coaching job without being a head coach," Monken told The Oklahoman. "With all the money people are getting paid now, (school decision makers) don’t want to guess."

Monken is correct. As more and more money pours into college football, the amount of pressure on coaches equally rises. Administrators have a quick trigger finger and aren't afraid to use it (see: Bohn, Mike). 

“The next step is an offensive guy who’s scoring," said Monken. "Put some people in the stands, exciting offense and all that. And that’s becoming more and more common. You have to take a smaller job, if you can, and win.”

This was a line of thought that played out on the FootballScoop Twitter feed earlier today.

A FBS HC's right hand man said 2 me yesterday, "That's why sometimes hot OC's take a lower level HC job…just to prove they can be HC" #Gus

— FootballScoop Staff (@footballscoop) November 30, 2012

Being the head man is an entirely different world than serving as an offensive coordinator. Monken smartly realizes his best move may be to follow the steps of Larry Fedora, who jumped from the Oklahoma State offensive coordinator to the head coaching job at Southern Miss, and Gus Malzahn, who did the same when moving from Auburn to Arkansas State. 

At a reported salary of $600,000, Monken knows he can afford to be picky. In fact, he reportedly turned down the offer to become head coach at Tulane last year. 

“You’ve just got to be careful. It’s OK to wave at the neighbor lady, flirt a little bit. I don’t know if it’s across the street. Better be careful, might not want to go in the house. But it’s nice to be wanted. It’s nice to have someone tell you, ‘Hey, we want you. And here’s this amount of money. And a five-year deal. It’s your own program…

“Everybody likes to be smoothed. Everybody likes to be wanted. And if you’re not careful, you can make an emotional decision, even if you know it’s the wrong thing.

“How many coaches have done that, taken the job and said, ‘Can I get the old one back, I screwed up?’”

Monken isn't a fan of the timeline that most coaching changes operate on. Coaches have to juggle the interview and hiring process while simultaneously helping their current team finish their season. It's an awkward timeline, but it's the price of playing poker in this day and age. 

"That’s what’s screwed up about our profession, you can’t control that," explained Monken. "When opportunities come up, they don’t allow you to finish. You say, ‘Hey, can we wait?’ They say, ‘We don’t want to wait.’”

As one of four finalists for the FootballScoop Offensive Coordinator of the Year award, we already knew Monken understood the coaching aspect of his profession. After hearing his thoughts; it's clear to us that he has a very good understanding of the process. He'll be a good head coach one day. 

Here's The Scoop on everything you need to know about tonight's tripleheader. 

Florida State at Virginia Tech (7:30 p.m. ET, ESPN)

On paper this should be a certain win for Florida State. Jimbo Fisher's team is the clear statistical leader in the ACC, ranking first or second within the league in 11 of the 17 official categories tracked by the NCAA. The Seminoles pace the ACC in total offense and total defense, scoring offense and scoring defense as well as passing efficiency and passing efficiency defense. 

The problem, however, is that certain wins have so often turned out not to be the case over the past decade for Florida State. According to Matt Hinton at SundayMorningQB.com, Florida State is 0-8 in ACC play while playing on the road as a ranked team against an unranked underdog since 2005. That number includes the Seminoles' only setback in 2012, a 17-16 setback at N.C. State on Oct. 6. (FSU is a two touchdown favorite tonight.) Since that loss, Fisher's squad has rebounded to win three straight; at 8-1 overall and 5-1 in conference play the Seminoles stand in first place of the ACC's Atlantic Division. 

That brings us to tonight as Florida State travels to Blacksburg to face a Virginia Tech team in the midst of a very un-Frank Beamer-like season. At 4-5 overall and 2-3 in league play, the five-time ACC Coastal champions are one game above the basement in the division. They come into tonight off a 30-12 loss to Miami last Thursday night, a game in which the Hokies were the team that endured a blocked punt, an 81-yard kickoff return, a missed field goal and a missed extra point. 

Tonight marks Florida State's first visit to Lane Stadium since 2007, a place where Virginia Tech has won its last seven games. Frank Beamer's team is 19-6 on Thursday nights and 25-3 in November since joining the ACC. Those sterling marks will be put to test against Florida State, the only squad that ranks among FBS's top eight in total offense and total defense. 

Louisiana - Monroe at Arkansas State (7 p.m. ET, ESPNU)

The Sun Belt title could be decided tonight when two of the league's top offenses square off in Jonesboro, Ark. ULM leads the league at nearly 38 points per game, while Arkansas State checks in at No. 3 with 34 points per game. Gus Malzahn's team enters tonight with a four-game winning streak in which they've posted nearly 40 points per game. 

Red Wolves quarterback Ryan Aplin has heated up over the last month, connecting on 78-of-108 (72.2 percent) of passes for 1,023 yards with seven touchdowns and no interceptions. Arkansas State's stretch of good football hasn't just been limited to Aplin; the Red Wolves have rushed 157 times for 714 yards (4.5 ypc) for 13 touchdowns over their past four games while limiting opponents to 580 yards on 151 attempts (3.8 ypc) and three scores. Arkansas State has also secured a 10-to-3 turnover margin over that span.

Todd Berry's team had its five-game winning streak snapped on Saturday, but still claims the Sun Belt's top scoring offense and turnover margin. Offensive coordinator Steve Farmer calls a balanced offense as ULM averages 40 passes per game to go with 36 rushes per game. That balance was thrown off in the 40-24 loss to Louisiana - Lafayette as the Warhawks only managed 74 rushing yards on 20 attempts. The Warhawks will need to run the ball better tonight without starting quarterback Kolton Browning, who suffered an injury early against ULL, in the lineup. Browning was working on a Sun Belt Player of the Year campaign, leading the league in total offense and accounting for 27 touchdowns. Senior Cody Wells steps in for Browning, bringing in a resume that includes 226 attempts for 1,499 yards and an 11-to-14 touchdown-to-interception ratio over his career.

Both teams share a 4-1 conference record coming into tonight, sitting atop the league along with Middle Tennessee (also 4-1 in Sun Belt play). ULM already owns a victory over the Blue Raiders, while Arkansas State hosts MTSU in the season finale on Dec. 1. A win tonight will go a long way toward a first conference championship for Berry's program, while Malzahn's squad hopes to defend its 2011 league title. 

Noth Alabama at West Alabama (7:30 p.m. ET, GSC-TV)

Bobby Wallace returns to Livingston, Ala., to face his old team and former offensive coordinator Will Hall, who is now at the helm of West Alabama. North Alabama (5-4) enters tonight ranked tenth in D2Football.com's Super Region 2 rankings, while West Alabama (7-3) checks in at No. 7. Hall's offense puts opposing defenses under a tremendous amount of pressure when things are clicking. The Tigers score nearly 44 points per game in their seven wins but just 16 points per game in their losses. 

Tonight marks Wallace's first trip back to West Alabama, where he led the program for five years. He is in his second stint at North Alabama, returning to the school where he coached from 1988-97 and won three NCAA Division II national titles. After winning four straight games in which they allowed a total of 28 points, the Lions have dropped three straight games and surrendered 100 points in the process.  

In case you didn't know (and how could you not?) Gus Malzahn and Arkansas State travel to southern Louisiana to face Mark Hudspeth and Louisiana - Lafayette. The game will be televised on ESPN2 at 8 p.m. ET.

Both teams bring in a 2-1 record in Sun Belt play. The 10-member league has five teams at 2-1 chasing 3-0 ULM, so any hopes either team has of a Sun Belt championship likely die with a loss tonight. The Ragin' Cajuns had won three straight matchups before Arkansas State's 30-21 win last season en route to an 8-0 league record and conference title. 

Tonight is Louisiana - Lafayette's second consecutive Tuesday night game. Hudspeth's team lost to North Texas 30-23 last Tuesday in a game that was also televised by ESPN2. Tonight signals an uptick in ULL's schedule, as the Ragin' Cajuns visit conference leader ULM and Florida in back-to-back weeks before hosting Western Kentucky on Nov. 17. But enough about the rest of the schedule, what stands out about tonight's game?

- Race to 30: Outside of Arkansas State's season-opening loss at Oregon, these teams are a combined 8-0 when scoring more than 30 points and 0-4 when under 30.

- Turnovers, turnovers, turnovers: ULL leads the Sun Belt in turnover margin with a plus-6 total. The Ragin' Cajuns have collected 13 turnovers while surrendering seven. Arkansas State has lost 12 turnovers and gained 10. The Red Wolves' culprit has been fumbles; Arkansas State has lost nine fumbles this season. 

- Not so special teams: Malzahn's team is solid across the board statistically except on special teams. The Red Wolves rank eighth in the conference in kickoff returns and ninth in net punting. ULL leads the Sun Belt in net punting with a full 10-yard advantage over Arkansas State on average. 

- Stingy where it counts: Louisiana - Lafayette resides in the middle of the road in most defensive statstics except one - scoring defense. Hudspeth's squad ranks second in the league (25.3 points per game) and has surrendered the fewest touchdowns per game of anyone in the conference.

- 1992. That's the last time Arkansas State won in Lafayette. Half of ASU's roster wasn't born in 1992, while Malzahn was in his first season as the head coach at Hughes High School in Arkansas. 

We've got some early week Fun Belt action on tap tonight with Arkansas State and Gus Malzahn facing off against Louisiana-Lafayette and Mark Hudspeth. College and NFL action will resume again on Thursday.

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College:

Arkansas State at Louisiana Lafayette - 8 - ESPN2

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