Gus Malzahn officially closed the book on his coaching career Tuesday, as he retired and stepped away from his role as Florida State’s offensive coordinator. His decision brought an end to more than three decades of pursuing the only profession he ever envisioned for himself.
Gus Malzahn Opens Up About the Real Reason Behind His Retirement Decision
Malzahn started his coaching journey at the high school level in Arkansas before eventually working his way into the SEC, wrapping up a 35-year career spent leading and assisting programs across the country.
Malzahn appeared on the “Chuck & Bo Show” on Tuesday to discuss what life after coaching feels like.
“It does feel a little weird,” Malzahn said (0:14). “First time in 35 years I woke up and didn’t have to go to work. So, it feels a little weird today… But we’re looking forward to it. It’s been an unbelievable 35 years. Man, we’re so blessed to have the experiences that we had, and so now we’re just looking forward to the next step in our lives. We got four grandkids and obviously two daughters, and looking forward to that next step.”
Malzahn’s decision to retire as Florida State’s offensive coordinator surprised many, especially with most coaching staff already finalized and the transfer portal largely closed. Under his offensive leadership last season, the Seminoles averaged 33 points per game, ranking first in the ACC and 10th nationally in the PFSN’s College Football OFFi Metric with an 87.0 rating.
Malzahn also explained what ultimately led to his abrupt retirement.
“It’s probably been the last few years,” Malzahn said. “I kind of have been feeling a certain way and missing my family. My grandkids are getting older, so it’s been a process. It’s probably been the last couple of weeks that it’s been heavy on my heart, and I just decided, you know, it’s time. It’s a good time to do this. And that’s how everything went down.”
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In his official retirement statement, Malzahn also mentioned his desire to prioritize family and embrace the next stage of his life.
Malzahn is most mentioned for his career at Auburn, where he served as head coach from 2013 to 2020 after spending time as the program’s offensive coordinator from 2009 to 2011. His tenure on the Plains ended with a 68-35 record.
Malzahn also enjoyed a head coaching stint at Arkansas State in 2012, where he finished 9-3, and at UCF from 2021 to 2024, where he posted a 28-24 record before joining the Seminoles staff in 2024.
Across his FBS head coaching career, Malzahn posted a 105-62 record, with just two losing seasons.
