Gus Malzahn will be announced as the next head football coach at Auburn at a 8 p.m. press conference tonight. The Arkansas State head coach was the offensive coordinator who helped bring Auburn a national championship in 2010.
Athletics Director Jay Jacobs said in a statement Tuesday afternoon that Malzahn was the runaway selection of the school's search committee, made up of Mac Crawford, Bo Jackson and Pat Sullivan.
"Coach Malzahn was the clear, unanimous choice of our search committee, and I am pleased that Dr. Gogue has accepted our recommendation," Jacobs said. "This is a great day for Auburn football and Auburn University."
Malzahn released a statement saying, "This is a homecoming for me and I look forward to being reunited with the Auburn family."
Auburn President Jay Gogue, who hinted earlier Tuesday in Montgomery that a decision may have already been made, said he was pleased to welcome Malzahn back to Auburn and thanked the search committee.
"They are each distinguished graduates of this great institution, and I'm grateful for their ongoing commitment," he said. "I appreciate them working so closely with Jay Jacobs as a team -- a very good team."
At Auburn, Malzahn worked with Chris Todd as quarterback in 2009 to break the school's passing touchdowns record. In 2010, he saw numerous offensive records rewritten with Cam Newton before seeing a step back in 2011. After the 2011 Chick-fil-A Bowl win over Virginia, Malzahn left for Jonesboro, Ark., where this year he led the Red Wolves to a top-20 ranking nationally.
Malzahn is fresh off leading his Arkansas State team to a 9-3 record and a Sun Belt title in his first year as a head coach. Arkansas State hired Malzahn last year after first-year coach Hugh Freeze left for Ole Miss.
Malzahn was a successful high school coach in northwest Arkansas at Shiloh Christian High School and Springdale High School before being hired by Houston Nutt as Arkansas' offensive coordinator for the 2006 season. He went to Tulsa the following year, where his offense led the nation in yards in 2007 and 2008.
Al.com reported Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart was told Auburn had chosen Malzahn. AStateNation.com first reported Malzahn would be Arkansas State's new coach last year and again broke the news Tuesday afternoon.
Malzahn replaces Gene Chizik, who is also a former Auburn coordinator who helped with a perfect season.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
