Auburn fires Malzahn after 8 seasons, will pay reported $21.45M buyout
Auburn fired head coach Gus Malzahn on Sunday, the school announced.
The school will pay Malzahn's $21.45-million buyout, reports Brian Davis of the Austin American-Statesman.
"After evaluating the state of the Auburn football program, we've decided that it was time to make a change in leadership," Auburn athletic director Allen Greene said in a statement. "We appreciate everything that Gus did for the program over the last eight seasons. We will begin a search immediately for a coach that can help the Auburn program consistently compete at the highest level."
Defensive coordinator Kevin Steele will serve as the interim head coach until a new coach is hired.
Malzahn's firing comes as a surprising move by Auburn. He had agreed to a reported seven-year, $49-million contract extension in December 2017.
Several people close to Auburn are shocked about the news of Gus Malzahn’s firing. One source told me Saturday it was 60-40 whether Gus would be fired.
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) December 13, 2020
From a timing perspective on the market, it’s perfect. No movement at Texas or Tennessee. Auburn is the biggest job open.
Malzahn posted a 68-35 record through eight seasons with the Tigers. The 55-year-old led the program to an SEC title and BCS National Championship appearance in his first year with the team in 2013.
The 2013 SEC Coach of the Year joined the Tigers after spending one season as the head coach at Arkansas State.
Auburn beat Mississippi State on Saturday, improving to 6-4 this year. The Tigers posted a winning record in every season with Malzahn at the helm.
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