Gus Malzahn introduced his new offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey Saturday night, and there was one prominent idea presented by Auburn’s head coach. His days of running the offense and calling plays are over.
“Chip is going to call the plays,” Malzahn said. “This is going to be Chip’s offense. This is going to be his responsibility. I have a lot of trust in him, like I said. He’s going to do a great job.”
“I think I told him – my old offensive clipboard, I’m retiring it. That’s probably the best way to answer that.”
Lindsey was hired away from Arizona State after just one season in Tempe. His Sun Devil offense averaged 33.3 points per game and 390.8 yards per game last season. Prior to his time at Arizona State, Lindsey spent two seasons at Southern Miss shattering multiple school records.
In 2015, the Golden Eagles racked up 6,800 yards of total offense, including more than 4,200 passing yards and just under 2,500 rushing yards. That season, Southern Miss was the only school in the nation with a 4,000-yard passer, a 1,000-yard receiver and two 1,000-yard rushers.
Lindsey described how important it was to him that Malzahn would relinquish play calling duties to him.
“That’s something that he and I talked about at length,” Lindsey said. “I’m very confident that this is going to be a great situation. He’s given me every opportunity to be successful and this is my responsibility. He hired me to do a job and I’m looking forward to doing it.”
Prior to becoming the offensive coordinator at Southern Miss, Lindsey spent the 2013 season serving as an offensive analyst under Malzahn at Auburn.
“I just want to say how honored I am to be here at this great university, it really is a dream come true,” Lindsey said.
“Obviously, Auburn has been good on offense before and done some things that are really good. We’re not going to lose touch with those things. But I think a few new wrinkles and a little different personality on it maybe will lead to a lot of success.”
Lindsey enters the fold at Auburn with a copious amount of talent on the offensive side of the ball. The nation’s No. 1 junior college recruit, quarterback Jarrett Stidham, is the prohibitive favorite to start under center for Auburn. The running back position is stacked with talent with the thunder and lightning combination of Kamryn Pettway and Kerryon Johnson. The Tigers possess loads of young talent at wide receiver with Kyle Davis, Eli Stove, Darius Slayton among others. Malzahn said he assured Lindsey of the firepower that Auburn will have on display.
“I told him we’re in great shape offensively with talent. I’m kind of jealous, really” a smiling Malzahn said.
“I’m very excited about him coming in and spicing up our offense. I have a lot of confidence in him and I’m very excited Chip Lindsey is our offensive coordinator.”
Lindsey will hit the ground running as National Signing Day nears. His hire comes just 11 days before Signing Day.
“I’m ready to start now,” Lindsey said. “(I’m) really looking forward to our time together and having a lot of fun next year.”
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