UCF confirmed the departure of head coach Gus Malzahn, with ESPN reporting that he will reunite with Florida State coach Mike Norvell as the Seminoles’ offensive coordinator.
“We would like to thank Coach Malzahn for his contributions to our football program over the past four seasons, including our transition into the Big 12 conference,” UCF wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “We appreciate his professionalism and dedication to our student-athletes throughout his tenure at UCF and wish he and his wife, Kristi, the very best in their future endeavors.”
Norvell, who served as a graduate assistant under Malzahn at Tulsa in 2007-08, relinquished his role as Florida State’s primary playcaller amid a staff shakeup this season.
In his press conference Saturday night after the Seminoles’ 31-11 loss to Florida, Norvell said the following when asked about reports that Malzahn might be joining Florida State as the team’s offensive coordinator:
“You know, I know we’ve identified an offensive coordinator and (I am) very excited about who that will be. I know there is still some things we have to finalize there in the, I guess, hiring process before I can comment. Is that right? I’m excited about who we have identified, though.”
Florida State, which is 2-10 overall and 1-7 in the Atlantic Coast Conference, was ranked No. 131 in the nation in total offense going into Saturday’s loss to the Gators.
UCF also endured a tough 2024 season, going 4-8 after losing eight of its last nine games. During Malzahn’s four-year tenure, the Knights went 28-24, including 5-13 in the Big 12 Conference the last two seasons.
Malzahn, 59, is 105-62 in 13 seasons as a college head coach, highlighted by a 68-35 mark in eight seasons at Auburn — which included a BCS title game appearance in 2013. He served as offensive coordinator and playcaller when the Tigers won the national title in 2010.
Malzahn will be tasked with revitalizing a Florida State offense that helped produce a 13-1 campaign in 2023, when the Seminoles were denied a spot in the College Football Playoff. Over the last three seasons at UCF, his rushing attack has been in the Top 10 in the nation.
In his 19 seasons as a college head coach or offensive coordinator, Malzahn’s teams have averaged 447.7 yards per game, and three of his teams eclipsed 7,000 yards in a season.
