Former Arkansas State Head Coach Gus Malzahn Retires from College Football
One of college football’s most influential offensive minds has stepped away from the sidelines.
Gus Malzahn announced his retirement Monday, closing the book on a 35-year coaching career that spanned Arkansas high school fields and some of the sport’s biggest college stages. In a statement released following his decision, Malzahn thanked his family, former players, and colleagues while saying he now looks forward to spending more time with loved ones and focusing on what comes next in his life.
While Malzahn’s résumé includes stops at national powers and more than 100 career wins as a head coach, his lone season with the Arkansas State Red Wolves remains one of the most memorable chapters in program history.
Malzahn took over in Jonesboro for the 2012 season and immediately transformed the Red Wolves into a Sun Belt powerhouse. In just one year at the helm, he guided Arkansas State to an undefeated conference run and a Sun Belt Conference championship, helping elevate the program to new heights. The Red Wolves finished the regular season 9–3, led the league in both scoring offense and total offense, and capped the year with a victory in the GoDaddy.com Bowl.
That historic season showcased Malzahn’s trademark fast-paced, creative offense and cemented his reputation as one of the game’s top innovators. It also set the stage for his return to the SEC, as he departed Jonesboro following the bowl win to take over at the Auburn Tigers.
Malzahn’s coaching journey began in Arkansas high schools in the early 1990s before he rose through the college ranks as an offensive coordinator and head coach. After his Arkansas State breakthrough, he spent eight seasons leading Auburn, guiding the Tigers to multiple Top 25 finishes and national prominence. He later served as head coach of the UCF Knights, overseeing the program during its transition into the Big 12, before a final stop as offensive coordinator with the Florida State Seminoles.
Malzahn retires with a 105–62 record as a head coach, 12 bowl appearances, and a reputation for reshaping modern offenses across college football.
For Arkansas State fans, however, his legacy will always be tied to that remarkable 2012 campaign — a season that delivered an undefeated conference run, a Sun Belt title, and a bowl victory, all in a single year. It remains one of the defining moments in Red Wolves football history and a testament to the impact Malzahn made in Jonesboro in a very short time.