UCF announces Gus Malzahn as new head football coach

ORLANDO, Fla. — It’s official: Gus Malzahn is the next head football coach at UCF.

Just after noon, UCF Football tweeted a video of Gus Malzahn being greeted by UCF’s new athletic director, Terry Mohajir, stepping off a plane at Orlando Executive Airport.

During a press conference Monday, coach Malzahn told the media and fans, “I’ve always said, if the right guy ever came to UCF and stayed and built it... I believe I’m that guy.”

Early Monday morning, ESPN first reported that a deal was being finalized and an announcement from UCF could come soon.

Malzahn was fired on Dec. 13 after eight seasons at Auburn, ESPN reported. He took the Tigers to the national championship game in his first season in 2013.

Malzahn replaces Josh Heupel, who left the team last month to coach the Tennessee Volunteers.

READ: Tennessee Volunteers hire UCF’s Josh Heupel as head coach

Last week, UCF announced Terry Mohajir as the university’s new athletic director.

Mohajir, who previously served as Arkansas State’s athletic director, replaces Danny White, who left UCF in January to become athletic director for the University of Tennessee.

Mohajir and Malzahn worked together at Arkansas State in 2012. After taking the job at UCF, Mohajir contacted Malzahn to gauge his interest.

“I didn’t know it was going to come open so when I said I was pretty dead set on sitting out a year possibly doing some TV, that was on my mind, but when this opened up, that changed everything for me,” said Malzahn.

READ: UCF names Terry Mohajir as new Athletic Director

Malzahn is no stranger to UCF; he coached against the Knights during the 2007-2008 seasons while with the University of Tulsa.

Most notably, Malzahn’s Auburn team was beaten by the Knights in the 2018 Peach Bowl while he was the head coach of the Auburn Tigers.

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps and click here to watch the latest news on your Smart TV.

Cox Media Group