While the sky isn’t falling just yet for UCF, Gus Malzahn’s decision-calling as head coach has been questioned during the Knights’ four-game losing streak in conference play; this in their inaugural Big 12 campaign. After the former Auburn football HC designed a passing play for UCF running back R.J. Harvey, certain Knights fans were calling for Malzahn to be fired from a Power Five job for the second time in four years.
If UCF continues to struggle, and the program makes the previously unfathomable decision to hand Malzahn his walking papers, Auburn should call the mastermind who helped design a championship-winning offense as offensive coordinator in 2010 to reprise that same role on the Plains.
While some may scoff at the idea of bringing Malzahn and his screen pass-heavy play-calling, his success recruiting and developing NFL QBs like Cam Newton, Jarrett Stidham, and, eventually Bo Nix — who admittedly developed more under Kenny Dillingham and Will Stein in Oregon than either Malzahn or Bryan Harsin — are a far cry from the momentumless offense AU has run under Philip Montgomery.
Auburn football must take chances with coaching staff hires in 2023
When you look at Georgia and Texas A&M having former long-time head coaches Will Muschamp as defensive coordinator and Bobby Petrino as offensive coordinator, respectively, the trend of hiring big-name head coaches to coordinator roles is hardly a novel concept.
AU hired Tulsa’s long-time head coach with the Montgomery hire, but not seeing results actually shouldn’t be that shocking considering his Golden Hurricanes tenure was largely unsuccessful outside of the 2016 season. Malzahn is a much different caliber of coach and if no school wants to hand him their reins after a hypothetical UCF firing, one dependent on the Knights not righting the ship, a reunion with Auburn as offensive coordinator should be welcomed.
Playing it safe doesn’t work in the NIL/transfer portal era of college football. Auburn owes it to the fanbase to attract talent by any means, and hiring a renowned name in the sport is the quickest way to do so.