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!