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Gus Malzahn’s not a patient man, but his patience during the search for a new defensive coordinator paid off in a huge way.
Auburn introduced former Florida head coach Will Muschamp as its new defensive coordinator on Saturday, marking the triumphant return of a once-loved coordinator back to the place where he made a name for himself.
“He’s the guy that I wanted, and we are blessed to have him here at Auburn,” Malzahn said during an introductory news conference on Saturday.
Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs confirmed Muschamp has agreed to a three-year deal, and while his officially salary hasn’t yet been disclosed, the $1.6 million to $1.8 million figure is accurate, according to James Crepea of the Montgomery Advertiser.
The hire comes two weeks into a whirlwind search process, in which Muschamp was linked to jobs at Auburn, Texas A&M, South Carolina and Houston, in addition to NFL positions.
Malzahn said it didn’t long for him to identify Muschamp as his guy, however.
“My goal was to go out there and get the best defensive coordinator in the country,” Malzahn said.
Auburn is the only job Muschamp was offered, and the respected defensive coach said it was an easy decision.
“It’s great to be back,” Muschamp said. “I want to thank Gus for this opportunity to come to Auburn, it’s a great place, it’s a special place.
“Really excited to be back. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”
Muschamp returns to a much different Auburn program than the one for which he once coached. He takes over a defense that allowed at least 31 points and more than 400 yards of total offense in its last six SEC games. The Tigers have ranked 60th or lower in total defense in each of the last six seasons. The last time Auburn fielded a top-25 defense was Muschamp’s unit in 2007, which ranked No. 6.
It had been widely reported that Muschamp was Malzahn’s top target. There speculation close to Muschamp’s camp, however, was that the ousted Florida coach may be looking to sit out a year in lieu of other opportunities.
Muschamp denied such claims, saying there was never any doubt he’d coach in 2015.
“I’m just a ball coach,” Muschamp said. “I have a great family that understands that.”
Fit is a trait often associated and discussed related to coaching searches and hires. Both Malzahn and Muschamp emphasized the fit for Muschamp — and his family — to return for his third stint on the Plains.
“It’s not about being a head coach, it’s about being somewhere where you know you’re going to have the support, the resources, the finances you need to be successful and to win championships,” Muschamp said. “For me, it’s not just about being a head coach. I’d rather be a defensive coordinator at a place like Auburn where you know you can compete for a championship every year.”
After living in Birmingham, Ala., Jordan left the ground zero of SEC Nation to head south to Florida to tell the unique stories of the renowned tradition of SEC football. In his free time, his mission is to find the best locales around.
