ASU’s Malzahn Heading Back To Auburn

ESPN is reporting that Arkansas State University head football coach Gus Malzahn will return to Auburn to take over for fired Gene Chizik.

Malzahn, an Arkansas native and former University of Arkansas assistant coach, has coached at ASU for one season leading the team to a 9-3 record and appearance in the GoDaddy.com Bowl.

Malzahn was offensive coordinator when Auburn won the national championship in 2010.

From ESPN:

Auburn is bringing a very familiar and successful face back to the Plains with the hiring of Arkansas State coach Gus Malzahn as the Tigers’ new head coach.

After just one season with the Red Wolves, Malzahn is headed back to Auburn to take over for Gene Chizik, his former boss, who was fired after going 3-9 in his fourth season as Auburn’s coach.

The return of Malzahn brings hope that offensive competence resurfaces on the Plains. This past season was abysmal for the Tigers’ offense. With Malzahn taking his act to Arkansas State, where he promptly went 9-3 and won a Sun Belt championship, and Scot Loeffler taking over, Auburn’s offense shifted from the spread to a more pro-style look.

But without Malzahn’s guidance — or offense — the Tigers were ranked last in the SEC in total offense, mustering just 305 yards per game. Auburn shuffled around three starting quarterbacks, averaging 156 passing yards a game in the process, and scored less than 20 points seven times, including two shutouts in the final three weeks of the season.

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