Coaching snapshot: Gus Malzahn

GUS MALZAHN
Age: 43 (born 10/2/65)
College: B.A. from Henderson State University, 1990
Playing career: Spent two years as a walk-on wideout at Arkansas; two years as a scholarship wideout at Henderson State.

Coaching career:
Auburn, offensive coordinator (present)
Tulsa, offensive coordinator (2007-08)
Arkansas, offensive coordinator (2006)
Springdale (Ark.) High, head coach (2001-05)
Shiloh Christian (Ark.) High, head coach (1996-2000)
Hughes (Ark.) High, head coach (1992-95)
Hughes (Ark.) High, defensive coordinator (1991)

Mentor:
(I haven't discussed this with him.)

Previous Auburn experience:
None, though he was the man behind Arkansas' 27-10 win at Auburn in 2006. You may remember the fumblerooski Reggie Fish used to preface a fourth-quarter touchdown that day.

Coaching philosophy:
He favors an up-tempo offense. Malzahn's approach differs from many of his contemporaries because it emphasizes deep passes. Most up-tempo offenses rely almost exclusively on swing passes and screens. He has shown the ability to thrive using different areas of emphases.

In general, his offenses feature the run.

There is no question about who is in control of this offense. Malzahn runs the meetings, identifies the skills he wants sharpened and isn't shy about sharing his ideas with assistant coaches. At the same time, he doesn't dabble in the work of those assistants during practice. He trusts that they're handling business as they see fit.

Malzahn, in general, seems tougher on his players than most of his predecessors. Al Borges (2004-07) and Noel Mazzone (1999-2001) were comforters. Tony Franklin (2008) was aloof. Bob Petrino (2002) was neither; he was terse and direct. Malzahn also is very direct with his comments both on the field and in the Athletic Complex. I would not describe him as terse. He has a firm grasp on the habits of players who have been successful in his system. If he sees performance/behavior that doesn't fit with his past experience, Malzahn makes abrupt corrections.

Malzahn isn't afraid of a full playbook. He is not guily of underestimating his players' aptitiude.

Personality profile:
Malzahn, in general, is a quiet person. He isn't someone who tells jokes or seeks the spotlight. I have described him as a bookworm in the past. Malzahn seems shy to me in many ways. That's strange to me because he has been a relatively high-profile guy since, say, 1994. He's been in state championship games, in the middle of innovation at turmoil at Arkansas, behind the scenes of a great offense at Tulsa.

You'd think someone with that kind of resume would embrace the hubbub. He's not. Malzahn is a guy who'd rather be watching film and honing his strategy.