Gus Malzahn is hanging up the headset, and the college football world is taking a well-earned moment to salute one of the game’s most innovative offensive minds. After 35 years in coaching - from high school sidelines in Arkansas to the national championship stage with Auburn - Malzahn announced his retirement Monday, capping off a career that’s left a deep imprint on the sport.
Most fans will remember Malzahn as the offensive architect behind Auburn’s electric 2010 national title run with Cam Newton and the Tigers’ return to the title game in 2013. But his influence stretches far beyond those high-profile moments.
Malzahn didn’t just coach winning football - he helped shape the modern tempo-driven offenses we see across the country today. And as of this past season, he was still at it, serving as Florida State’s offensive coordinator under Mike Norvell in 2025.
What makes Malzahn’s journey especially compelling is how it started. Before the SEC stadiums and national TV lights, he was drawing up plays in high school gyms across Arkansas.
That grassroots beginning helped shape his approach - creative, aggressive, and always a step ahead. And as his career evolved, so did his coaching tree, which now includes some of the brightest offensive minds in the game.
One of those branches? Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz.
He got his first taste of college football in 2010 as a quality control assistant on Malzahn’s Auburn staff - the same year Newton and the Tigers tore through the SEC en route to a national championship. Drinkwitz stayed on in 2011 under Gene Chizik, then followed Malzahn to Arkansas State in 2012 to coach running backs.
But their connection goes even deeper. Back in 2004, Drinkwitz was a volunteer coach at Springdale High School in Arkansas.
Malzahn was the head coach there at the time, already turning heads with his up-tempo offense and knack for developing quarterbacks.
Drinkwitz took to social media to thank the man who opened that first door.
“Thank you for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime! You represented what it means to be called a ‘Coach,’” Drinkwitz wrote.
“I know in this next chapter (you) will continue to ‘use your influence in a positive way.’ See you soon & I’ll have the coffee ready!”
That kind of message isn’t rare when it comes to Malzahn. Across the state line, Kansas assistant head coach and running backs coach Jonathan Wallace also shared his appreciation.
Wallace played quarterback and wide receiver at Auburn from 2012 to 2015 - right in the heart of Malzahn’s tenure - and stayed on as a graduate assistant afterward. For Wallace, Malzahn wasn’t just a coach; he was a mentor and a launching pad into the coaching world.
“A True Trailblazer!,” Wallace posted. “Thank you for giving me an opportunity to start my coaching journey.
You’ve been a blessing to me and my family in many ways! Enjoy retirement and your family!”
That’s the legacy Malzahn leaves behind - not just the wins and the hardware, but the ripple effect of his leadership. From high school programs to Power Five sidelines, his fingerprints are everywhere.
He didn’t just run offenses - he built people. And now, as he steps away from the game, the coaches he mentored and the players he inspired are carrying the torch.
Gus Malzahn may be retiring, but his impact on college football is far from finished.