Gus Malzahn
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Date of birth | October 28, 1965 (age 41) | |
|---|---|---|
| Place of birth | Irving, Texas | |
| Sport | Football | |
| College | Tulsa | |
| Title | Offensive coordinator | |
| Record with Team | 0-0 | |
| Overall Record | 0-0 | |
| School as a player | ||
| 1987-89 | Henderson State | |
| Position | WR | |
| Coaching positions | ||
| 2007-present 2006 2001-2005 1996-2000 1992-1995 1991 |
Tulsa (Offensive coordinator) Arkansas (Offensive coordinator) Springdale HS Shiloh Christian HS Hughes HS Hughes HS (Def. coordinator) |
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Gus Malzahn (born October 28, 1965 in Irving, Texas) is an American football coach. He is the current offensive coordinator at the University of Tulsa. Malzahn is a high school coaching legend in the state of Arkansas and the former offensive coordinator at the University of Arkansas.
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[edit] Playing career
Malzahn graduated from Fort Smith Christian in 1984 and was a walk-on receiver at Arkansas under then-head coach Ken Hatfield before transferring to Henderson State University, where he earned his bachelor’s in physical education in 1990.
[edit] Coaching career
[edit] High school coaching career
Successful at every stop of his career, he actually got his start as the defensive coordinator at Hughes High School in 1991. He became head coach in 1992 and in 1994 Hughes reached the state championship game with an upset of Pine Bluff Dollarway. Hughes fell just short in the title game, losing to Lonoke on an interception in the final minute.
His success at Hughes and his wide-open attack landed Malzahn a head coaching position at Shiloh Christian in 1996. From 1996-2000, Malzahn transformed Shiloh Christian into one of the most dynamic offensive prep squads in the nation.
He led the Saints to back-to-back state championships in 1998 and 1999. In 2001, Malzahn took over for legendary coach Jarrell Williams at Springdale High School. Malzahn continued the rich tradition of the Bulldogs’ program. He led the program to two state championship game appearances in the past four years, winning the title in 2005.
Malzahn led his squad to the state title game in only his second season in 2002. The Bulldogs lost a hard-fought 17-10 decision to Fort Smith Southside.
Springdale was on track for another state title game appearance in 2004 before Little Rock Central sidetracked the Bulldogs’ title hopes in the state semifinals. Springdale was upset by the eventual state champion, 31-20. The Bulldogs finished the season at 12-1.
His 2005 squad at Springdale went 14-0, easily won the state’s Class 5A championship, outscored its opponents 664-118, including a 54-20 victory over West Memphis in the state championship game, and was consistently ranked among the top 10 teams in the nation. Included on the championship team were prize recruits Mitch Mustain, Ben Cleveland, Andrew Norman, and Damian Williams who all eventually joined their coach at the U of A.
[edit] College coaching career
[edit] University of Arkansas
Malzahn joined Houston Nutt's staff on December 9, 2005, as offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. He joined the staff following an impressive five-year run at Springdale High School capped by one of the most dominant seasons by any school in 2005. Malzahn was part of the Razorbacks (10-4) season, SEC Western Division championship and appearance in the SEC championship game, but the season ended with three straight loses to LSU, Florida (SEC Championship Game) and Wisconsin (Capital One Bowl).
Prize recruits and Gus' former players Damian Williams and Mitch Mustain left the Razorback program discontent with the way they perceived the offense to be run, having been promised that Arkansas would utilize Malzahn's Spread-No Huddle offense. After their parents met with Athletic Director Frank Broyles to question "the state of the football program", they were dissatisfied with the result and therefore chose to transfer. In January, 2007, Malzahn received an offer from the University of Tulsa and his friend, and newly named head coach Todd Graham. Due to the limited amount of Hurry Up No Huddle Offense being integrated into the Razorback offense, Malzahn took the Tulsa job to be Offensive Coordinator and Assistant Head Coach.
[edit] University of Tulsa
Malzahn suddenly left the University of Arkansas coaching staff on January 16, 2007 to join his coaching friend and newly named Tulsa head coach Todd Graham.
[edit] Trivia
Coach Malzahn is known for his no-huddle offensive philosophy, he has produced an instructional video and book titled "Hurry Up No Huddle — An Offensive Philosophy."
Gus has also been a guest speaker and instructor at numerous coaching clinics around the nation.
Malzahn and his wife Kristi have two daughters, Kylie and Kenzie.
[edit] Further reading
- Voigt, Kurt (2007). Year of the Dog: One Year, One Team, One Goal. Las Vegas: Stephens Press. ISBN 978-1932173642.
