After four years in Orlando, Gus Malzahn's time as the head coach of the UCF Knights has come to an end.
ESPN reported Saturday that Malzahn will leave his head coaching position and take the role of offensive coordinator at Florida State University.
UCF lost 28-14 to Utah in Friday's final regular-season game, marking Malzahn's last time coaching the Knights.
UCF released a statement confirming Malzahn's departure and thanking the coach for joining the program.
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UCF Knights head coach Gus Malzahn during warmups before a game against the Florida Atlantic Owls at FAU Stadium on September 17, 2022 in Boca Raton, Florida. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
“We would like to thank Coach Malzahn for his contributions to our football program over the past four seasons, including its transition to the Big 12 Conference,” the school said in a statement. “We thank him for his professionalism and dedication to our student-athletes during his time at UCF and wish him and his wife Kristy all the best in their future endeavors.”
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Malzahn leaves UCF with a 28-24 record, but his past two seasons have been disappointing. The Knights finished the 2023 regular season with a 6-6 record, losing to Georgia Tech in the Gasparilla Bowl. Friday's loss brings UCF's record to 4-8 on the season.
UCF joined the Big 12 ahead of the 2023 season.
Central Florida head coach Gus Malzahn leads his team during the second half of the game against Utah on Friday, Nov. 29, 2024 in Orlando, Florida. (AP Photo/John Rau)
Malzahn spent eight seasons as the head coach of the Auburn Tigers before being fired in 2020. He coached Auburn to the Southeastern Conference title in 2013 and a berth in the BCS National Championship Game.
Malzahn replaces offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Alex Atkins, who was fired on Nov. 10 after Florida State's 52-3 loss to Notre Dame. The Seminoles rank 131st out of 134 teams in total offense and scoring, averaging 15.8 points per game heading into Saturday night's rivalry game against Florida.
The Florida State Seminoles and Florida Gators face off at Doak S. Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, Florida on November 30, 2024. (Melina Myers/Imag Images)
The Seminoles (2-9) have fallen in the standings since going 13-1 last season and winning the Atlantic Coast Conference championship.
Meanwhile, the Knights struggled in Malzahn's fourth season, primarily due to quarterback issues. Four players took snaps at center, and the Knights finished 2-7 in conference play. This is the program's worst record since 2015, when it went 0-12 in former coach George O'Leary's final season.
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In addition to Atkins, Florida State coach Mike Norvell also decided to part ways with defensive coordinator Adam Fuller and receivers coach Ron Dugans during the Seminoles' disappointing season.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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