AUBURN, ALABAMA - Auburn coach Gene Chizik introduced new offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn to the media on Monday and said the two have begun discussing additions to the coaching staff.
Malzahn, co-offensive coordinator for Tulsa's high-powered attack the past two seasons, was named Auburn's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach on Sunday.
Chizik, who came to Auburn from Iowa State earlier this month and previously was Auburn's defensive coordinator, said he was impressed with the pressure Malzahn's offense put on opponents' defenses.
"You're always looking for offensive philosophy that give defenses trouble," Chizik said. "I was very impressed every time."
Malzahn formerly was offensive coordinator at Arkansas, and has a reputation for running a no-huddle, spread offense. He indicated that what he'll do at Auburn may not be so easy to categorize.
"We're going to be a run team, a play-action team," he said. We're going to play smash-mouth football."
Chizik concurred. "When it comes to our offense in this league we have to start with our running game," he said.
He said that as far as hiring assistants familiar with Malzahn's system, "What is more important for me is finding the right fit now. Whether that is somebody that is more familiar with the system or less familiar with it, I don't know. That's where Gus and I will go in making the rest of the hires on offense."
Tulsa averaged 565 yards and 47 points a game this year to rank among the most prolific in the country, and Malzahn said his offense at Auburn will somewhat resemble what he ran there.
"I think you'll see a lot of similarities. You will see the same philosophy, the pace, the run, play-action, throwing the ball vertically down field," he said.
Malzahn said he would return to Tulsa Tuesday to help prepare the Golden Hurricane for the GMAC Bowl against Ball State on Jan. 6. He'll also be helping with Auburn recruiting.
"This is a big moment for me to have a chance to come to Auburn," he said.
Wednesday
May 8th, 2024
12:51PM
