Report: Gus Malzahn to be offered his 'dream job' at Arkansas
Arkansas’ reported pursuit of Gus Malzahn has been rumored for weeks, but now that the opening is official, friends close to Malzahn have reached a “moment of truth” according to Mike Irwin.
Friends of Malzahn have told Irwin for years that the Arkansas job is Malzahn’s dream job, and if that’s true, its “about to be offered.”
The Malzahn-to-Arkansas chances have cooled in recent weeks following big wins over Georgia and Alabama, and if Auburn makes the College Football Playoff, they could be all but dead. With the Georgia win, it broke a six-game losing streak to top-10 teams that dated to 2014 for Malzahn who appeared to silence critics who said he was often out-coached in big games.
During a guest spot on The Paul Finebaum Show two weeks ago, Arkansas writer Wally Hall pegged the chances of Arkansas offering the job to Malzahn at 75 to 80 percent, if he’s not in the CFP.
“But he would weigh all those options,” Hall said. “I think Gus loves Arkansas, it’s his home. But he’s not going to have as many weapons to work with. Arkansas is automatically handicapped in recruiting. If the University of Arkansas takes more than eight players in-state, they’re having a bad year. The state does not produce many high D-I players, certainly not SEC caliber.”
“… But I think they have to consider Gus. His success speaks for itself. Homegrown guy. I think it’ll come down to the decision would be squarely in his corner.”
Friends of Gus Malzahn have been trying to convince me for 10 years that he's a Razorback at heart and will accept his "dream job" anytime it's offered. Well, it's about to be offered. We'll know in a few days if they know him as well as they think they do. #momentoftruth
— Mike Irwin (@MikeIrwinPTN) November 29, 2017
the only reason i would want gus at arkansas is that maybe tim horton comes back. i never really understood why beliema didnt keep horton when he came to arkansas.
Go for it Gus! Take the job today!
Coach Malzahn was my coach at Springdale Arkansas high school. He shared admiration to be a college coach and coach at Arkansas then. Everyone that knew him here, is family feiends, thousands of people want him here, and he knows that. Arkansas is really his dream job, he is an Arkansas guy. Regardless what happens to Auburn this season, if he gets offered the Head Coaching job at Arkansas, it’s hard to believe he would pass it up. He will do great things in the natural state, his home, and we would have him here for a very long time. I look forward to seeing the Gus Bus come back to Arkansas, and hope Auburn finds another good coach after he is gone. I just don’t see him turning the hogs down. #WooPig
I agree with you. His dream job was Arkansas, back when he was a HS coach in the 90’s.
Now’s he’s at an elite program in the middle of a championship run and with a lot of elite talent coming in to keep things rolling for years to come.
He’s got amazing facilities and another $28million renovation happening right now.
He’s going to get a hefty raise/extension I’m sure for the job he has done here in 2017.
He’s not going anywhere.
Lol you are crazy if you think that, Arkansas is still his dream job, and always will be, you don’t know Gus on a personal level like I do, his family and friends are here, Arkansas will always be his home, only chance you guys have of keeping him, is if Arkansas doesn’t offer the job to him, which is unlikely. And even though we probably dont need too, Arkansas is capable of offering Gus as much Money as Auburn if not more.
Like I said…Gus is about to get PAID after this season. I’m guessing $7mil + and a very nice extension. Sorry I just don’t see Arkansas matching that kind of money.
I get what you are saying…yes Gus is from Arkansas but when the rubber hits the road and he’s looking at choosing between Auburn and Arkansas…nah. He’s staying.
Him being successful(winning championships) at Arkansas is absolutely a “Dream”…he can go there in 10 years when he’s ready to retire.
Good luck in your coaching search.
An elite program that had him on the hot seat 2 months ago? I’m sure he loves getting hated on by the same fans riding his di** now that y’all playing for a sec championship! Sad thing is if he lost the iron bowl we wouldn’t have to be taking him from y’all, you guys would have gotten rid of him. But ur right, why would he leave?
I agree. The Arkansas job isn’t going anywhere. All this focus on Gus really makes Arkansas look very careless to other coaches. It just doesnt make much sense for Gus to leave. Look what he’s got at Auburn! His salary will greatly increase & who knows he may go to the National chalpionship. This is a program he built! Why walk away when its thriving only to start over from scratch at Arkansas. I hope Arkansas throws some real cash at a big name coach! If Gus is #1, Memphis coach #2 I really think Arkansas is in bad shape. Sure, I’d enjoy Gus but just seems far fetched!
I seriously doubt Gus will go to Arkansas. Only because he has built a strong program. But you are wrong in your reasons. Auburn DOES NOT have more money than Arkansas. Ark. endowment is 1 Billion, whereas Aub. Is around 600 million. While Aub. Is getting a $28 million renovation…well…Ark. is getting a $200 million renovation. As far elite programs…. just because Aub. lives in the epic shadow of Bama and winning against them once every 5 to 7 years does not make Aub elite. Bama is elite, Florida is elite, LSU is elite….Aub is NOT elite.
Leave Auburn for Arkansas? Wow. I guess the Hogs will be pulling hard for the Dawgs this weekend.
Wooo Dawgs?
Wooo dog chewy
I guess people have done crazier things, but I just don’t see it. This would basically be him admitting he’s ready to retire and stop competing for championships. Maybe if he finally won it all this year and was ready to settle down?
Yeah..settle down…I’m sure that’s it. When was the last time that Auburn was competing for championships before he was there? Was it 2010..oh wait Gus was your offensive coordinator? And then he left and ya’ll went winless in the SEC? Before 2010? I admit that Arkansas would be somewhat of a step down prestige wise, but he could build this program into winner just like he did for Auburn. I don’t know if he’s going to come, but I feel that he has made Auburn a contender not because Auburn is Auburn, but because he is a great coach. If he comes it’s to build a program he’s always wanted to be at, into a title contender. The only thing I will agree with you on this statement is I don’t see it either. Not because its Auburn vs Arkansas but because he has already established a great program there.
Actually, I think one reason he might leave is because he has not been that great at Auburn (been on the hot seat twice now). He had one great season before this one when he first arrived (2013) then followed that with 8-5, 7-6, and 8-5 (very subpar). Also, during that span failing to ever recruit an effective QB (which is supposed to be his thing!). He gets lucky this year by having Stidham transfer out of Baylor due to a very odd situation, yet still drops 2 games during this season (including an embarrassing loss to LSU which had everyone signing Auburn’s death warrant). He climbs out of the hole with big wins over UGA and Bama (which is impressive), but still not sure of a playoff spot. The point is, it’s been a struggle at Auburn for him with very inconsistent results and I’m not sure he’s confident he can meet expectations there every year (he hasn’t thus far), so Arkansas could feel much more welcoming to him.
Good incite!
You’re living a pipe dream if you think Gus can win the SEC at Arkansas. Nobody can. He’s got dozens of 4 and 5 stars within 2 hours of Auburn. At Arkansas, he’ll spend 90% of his time flying and trying to convince players to leave their state. And it’s not just Gus. You think he can convince his defensive staff to follow him to Arkansas? No chance. Without Auburn’s D, they’re sitting at 6-6 right now. Gus did a great job of assembling a staff at Auburn and their all about to get PAID.
*they’re
Houston Nutt was close to winning one. Bobby Petrino was as well. This “pipe dream” was very close to happening already. With the right hire, Gus or no Gus, we can compete for a championship. We’ve already proven that. Any good coach can assemble a good staff at either Auburn or Arkansas.
Gus is 52 & I’m guessing he’s got plenty more gas in the tank! This won’t be his last offer from Arkansas if he’s not ready to leave Auburn. Which, why he would leave Auburn is a mystery to me
I would hope he stays at this point, all of the great coaches are taken by now.
I doubt he leaves. But if he leaves, you’d want it to be sooner rather than later. I’m sure Auburn would try move VERY quickly and snipe Jimbo from A&M. That would really raise my heart rate. Hope it doesn’t happen.
NO on Jimbo! If JJ were still calling the shots, I think Muschamp would be the first call.
Hahahahahaha…..I cannot wait for Gus to turn us down just so I can witness the complete meltdown that the Gus Cult will go thru. I just hope other candidates don’t spurn us also.
That’s what I am afraid of! Arkansas seems laser focused on Gus. And when he says “No,” they havent given other coaches equal attention & that may turn them away. I want the best for the Hogs, but damn this seems like a real crap shoot & it really doesnt have to be this way at all
For those who don’t follow the Arkansas program, we have extremely powerful rich boosters, who are sold on having Gus in Arkansas next year, rather its the Waltons, Dallas cowboy owner Jones or the several other rich booster we have. Arkansas is fully capable of winning the SEC if we have the right coach and staff ( We didn’t even have that with Coach P) and he won 20 games in his only 2 seasons here. Once Gus is here, he’ll do alot better then idiot Tennessee fans think.He’d rather be somewhere he is loved, then at a problem thats changes their mind about him every other week….Look forward to seeing Gus back at Arkansas, it really is a done deal after he recieves an offer, regardless how Auburns season goes. #WooPig.
Program*
They don’t understand that there probably isn’t a richer booster in college football than the Waltons and they want Gus so they are going to do what it takes to make it happen and make sure that he is successful even if that means more upgrades and probably a contract only 2nd to that other coach in alabama
Grew up in Arkansas, went to UofA, played college golf all 4yrs. Graduated w/ a masters from Walton College of business. Arkansas has Jerry Jones & some heavy hitters. However, I think you are misinformed on the Walton family being involved. Norwest Arkansas definitely has some mega wealth, but if you think Malzhan’s decision will have anything to do with money you are wrong. I assure you, whatever Arkansas is prepared to offer the guy Auburn will match. I wish the Walton family, Stephens, Jon Tyson, etc would throw some mega money out there to get us a big name coach. WIth all this coaching musical chairs, I’m not sure who that is & for most big name coaches…They’ve made millions & will continue. Arkansas has incredible facilities but produces very few in state recruits & will always be a tougher place to win than some of its Sec rivals
I hope he does come back home but there are some factors to look at they should have offered him the job back when he was the coach at Arkansas state coach p was good but he would have been better he does already have a winning program at auburn… but for Wally to say that the state of Arkansas doesn’t have the talent in state to win in the sec is crazy if these coaches stop only recruiting in the northwest corner of Arkansas and look in other parts of the state as well the talent pool is there.
Being reported. Malzahn has signed an extension with Auburn.
? Source ?
I don’t think he will leave. Top to bottom Auburn is a better job. The only reasons I see that he would are pretty clear. Arkansas has Wal Mart money, so maybe they offer him more than AU would match, the other is I think the Ark job would be more stable for him. Gus has done a great job, he has adjusted his offensive gameplay to allow his defense to be better. But, even now he seems to be a two game losing streak from the hot seat. Earlier this year many predicted his demise. Even many AU fans wanted him axes. AU just expects more. Also, he would have much more power at Arkansas. And that’s always tempting. All that said, I think he stays at AU, after leveraging this interest into a huge raise.
My dream was to live in Alabama forever…then I moved to Louisiana for school. I have no desire ever to move back. Dreams change. I don’t think he would take a step-down job to Arkansas. With that said, if he goes to Arkansas the expectations are lower than being at Auburn.
Auburn is looking a lot like a dream job.
They were hell on wheels this season.
Key words “this season”
Not so sure Auburn would be considered an elite program! Now Alabama,Georgia,Florida, LSU,now these are elite schools. Auburn has been lucky this year,not deserving of playoff consideration because they have 2 losses.I think Malzahn leaves Auburn.