Dan Mullen praises UCF's decision to hire former Auburn coach Gus Malzahn
The UCF Knights found their new head coach on Monday, hiring ex-Auburn coach Gus Malzahn to replace Josh Heupel, who took over at Tennessee.
Malzahn will be tasked with maintaining UCF’s standing as one of the premier Group of 5 squads, and he’ll have some talent to work with this fall.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Florida coach Dan Mullen, who is 3-3 against Malzahn in his career at Florida and Mississippi State, said he’s happy for his friend (via the Orlando Sentinel):
“I‘m really happy for Gus,” Mullen said Tuesday. “I’m good friends with Gus. I’ve known him for a long time. I remember going out to visit him in Arkansas as a high school coach and him coming to spend days here and us talking a lot of football together. Him and his wife, Christy, I mean great people.
“I’ve always had a lot of respect.”
Mullen also said he thinks the Knights will be successful under Malzahn, adding that fans should be excited:
“He’s always done a great job and been really successful. Been an innovator,” Mullen said of Malzahn. “I think he’ll do a great job. I think everybody at UCF should be really excited to have him come in.”
Will Malzahn indeed have success in Orlando? And, could he face off against Mullen again soon? We’ll find out soon enough!
Malzahn @ UCF is going to beat mullet and the turds like a rented mule.
He will win a National Title before Georgia… of course this is any team… been 41 years since bulldogs held up a Natty trophy… almost 15,000 days… Florida is going to beat you for the next 10 years and YOU know it because bulldogs are not coached smart… pun… keep winning recruiting titles because you will NEVER win another National Title as long as Mullen is at Florida. Your days are OVER!! 42-28
Gus should do well at UCF…the expectations are lower than at Auburn. Plus he will be able to recruit the State of Florida well.
UCF definitely made a much better hire than Tennessee.
My thoughts as well, UT fans got the short end of the stick. I’d take Gus over Heupel any and ever day.
If Gus ever figures out to recruit and manage the QB position he’ll be very dangerous.