UCF coach Gus Malzahn is resigning after 4 seasons with the varsity.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel was the primary to report the transfer, which brought on Malzahn to depart to take the offensive coordinator job at Florida State. Malzahn beforehand labored with FSU coach Mike Norvell throughout their time at Tulsa below then-coach Todd Graham from 2007-08.
The Knights ended a disappointing 4-8 season wherein they misplaced eight of their final 9 video games, the longest dropping streak since 2015.
Malzahn, 59, was within the fourth 12 months of a contract by way of 2028. His buyout, it’s reported, would have been $13.75 million. He completed 27-25 at UCF however misplaced 16 of his final 22 video games and was a dismal 4-14 in two seasons within the Huge 12.
After back-to-back 9-win seasons in 2021-22, the Knights went 6-7 in 2023 and 4-8 in 2024.
UCF’s Gus Malzahn is now formally on the recent seat | Commentary
This season began with excessive expectations as Malzahn made sweeping adjustments to this system. He retooled the energy and conditioning division and employed Ted Roof and Tim Harris Jr. as defensive and offensive coordinators, respectively.
He additionally added practically 50 new gamers to the roster, leaning closely on the switch market.
UCF began by profitable its first three video games towards New Hampshire, Sam Houston and an exhilarating comeback at TCU, however offensive struggles noticed the Knights tumble by way of a TBD-game dropping streak to complete the season.
Terry Mohajir employed Malzahn on Feb. 15, 2021, six days after he was employed to exchange Danny White. The transfer got here eight weeks after Malzahn had been fired at Auburn after eight seasons of teaching the Tigers.
The 2 briefly labored collectively at Arkansas State in 2012 earlier than Malzahn left for the Auburn job.
“When he [Mohajir] supplied the job, I used to be like, ‘I’m in.’ There wasn’t enthusiastic about or speaking about …,” Malzahn mentioned throughout his introductory press convention. “This shall be among the finest applications in school soccer in a short while. This can be a job that I plan on being right here and constructing it.”
UCF opened the 2021 season with non-conference wins over Boise State and Bethune-Cookman earlier than touring to Louisville on Sept. 17, the place quarterback Dillon Gabriel suffered a fractured collarbone within the last minute of a 42-35 loss.
Backup Mikey Keene would end out the season as Gabriel introduced his intention to switch.
The Knights would end the season on the plus facet by accepting a bid to affix the Huge 12 Convention in September after which by defeating Florida 29-17 within the Gasparilla Bowl.
Malzahn struck switch portal gold within the offseason when he signed former Ole Miss quarterback John Rhys Plumlee. Plumlee, a two-sport star with the Rebels, helped information UCF to the American Athletic Convention Championship in its last season.
UCF soccer switch tracker: Knights put together for loads of offseason strikes
Nonetheless, Plumlee’s damage compelled the Knights to go along with Keene and freshman Thomas Castellanos. The staff completed with losses to Tulane within the convention championship and Duke within the Navy Bowl.
Plumlee would return in 2023 as UCF transitioned to the Huge 12 however would go down with a knee damage within the last minute of the Knights’ 18-16 win at Boise State on Sept. 9. He would miss the subsequent 4 video games as backup Timmy McClain took over the staff.
Even on his return, Plumlee couldn’t assist UCF, on a five-game dropping streak to open convention play. The Knights obtained their first Huge 12 win at Cincinnati on Nov. 4 and upset No. 15 Oklahoma State the next week, however the staff nonetheless wanted a win over Houston within the regular-season finale to safe a bowl bid for the eighth straight season.
From the second Malzahn stepped on campus, he prioritized recruiting, notably in Central Florida.
“We’re going to recruit like our hair’s on fireplace,” Malzahn mentioned on the time. “We’re going to go after one of the best gamers in America and we’re not backing all the way down to anyone.”
From 2007 to 2020, UCF signed 10 four-star highschool and junior school prospects. Eight four-star prospects had been within the three recruiting lessons signed below Malzahn.
The 2024 recruiting class earned a composite rating of 39 from 247Sports, the highest-ranked class at school historical past.
The 2025 recruiting class is ranked No. 41 and has commitments from three four-star prospects.
Malzahn has at all times leaned on the switch market, signing 60 gamers over the previous three seasons. Some have paid big dividends, equivalent to Javon Baker, Lee Hunter, Kobe Hudson, Tylan Grable, Bula Schmidt, Amari Kight, Marcellus Marshall, Trent Whittemore, Gage King, Ethan Barr, Deshawn Tempo and Plumlee.
Others haven’t been as profitable, equivalent to quarterback KJ Jefferson, who began the primary 5 video games of this season earlier than being benched for poor efficiency.
Jefferson’s struggles compelled the Knights to play musical chairs at quarterback, with true freshman EJ Colson, redshirt sophomore Jacurri Brown and redshirt freshman Dylan Rizk all seeing motion at one level or one other this season.
This season’s struggles led to a number of gamers using the NCAA’s redshirt rule after 4 video games, together with beginning slot receiver Xavier Townsend and kicker Colton Boomer, who’ve additionally entered the switch portal.
Defensive finish Kaven Name posted a letter to Malzahn on Twitter wherein he accused the UCF teaching workers of just lately kicking him off the staff when he requested to be redshirted.
Matt Murschel will be reached at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com