AP source: UCF close to hiring ex-Auburn coach Malzahn

Central Florida is close to a deal to make former Auburn coach Gus Malzahn the Knights’ next head coach

By RALPH D. RUSSO AP College Football Writer

February 15, 2021, 3:33 PM

• 2 min read

Central Florida is close to a deal to make former Auburn coach Gus Malzahn the Knights’ next coach.

A person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Monday that UCF and Malzahn are finalizing an agreement that would bring him to the school in Orlando, Florida, a little more than two months after he was fired by Auburn.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because a deal was not yet complete. The Orlando Sentinel first reported Sunday night UCF had offered Malzahn the job.

Malzahn went 68-35 in eight seasons with the Tigers, including 39-27 in the Southeasteastern Conference.

UCF has been one of the top teams in the American Athletic Conference since joining the league in 2013. The Knights have won the conference three times and played in three BCS or New Year’s six bowls.

Coach Scott Frost led UCF to an unbeaten season in 2017, capped by a Peach Bowl victory against Auburn and Malzahn. Heupel took over in 2018 and led the Knights to another unbeaten regular season before losing in the Fiesta Bowl to LSU.

The Knights fell off last year to 6-4.

Auburn fired Malzahn, paying a $22 million contract buyout to the coach, after the Tigers went 6-4 this past season.

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