SEC REPORT:
Auburn AD voices support for Malzahn.
Gus Malzahn is in the first season of a sevenyear, $49 million contract, but with Auburn having fallen out of the top 10 in the national polls, Tigers Athletic Director Allen Greene felt the need to show public support for his football coach.
Despite Malzahn’s massive buyout — $32 million if he is fired after this season with $16 million due within a month — there was speculation about his job status after Auburn lost at home to Tennessee to fall to 4-3.
The Tigers won their past two games at Ole Miss and over Texas A&M, which somewhat quieted the noise around Malzahn and the program.
Then Greene — hired 10th months ago from the University of Buffalo — removed any doubt about Malzahn’s status.
“He’ll be the coach next year and I’m confident — he’s already proven we can get through adversity,” Greene told reporters this week. “Every team has it and I’m looking forward to working with him for a long time.”
Malzahn was rewarded with a contract extension after beating Georgia and Alabama last season to win the SEC West.
The Tigers were ranked as high as No. 7 earlier this season before losses to LSU and Mississippi State and then shockingly to Tennessee dropped them from the national polls. The College Football Playoff Committee ranked Auburn No. 24 in its poll released Tuesday night.
“We’re having a tough year, but we have the opportunity to finish strong,” Malzahn said Wednesday on the SEC coaches’ teleconference. “And I will say this, the future is very bright. I’m excited to be the coach here.”
Auburn plays at Georgia on Saturday night.
“To be honest with you, right now my focus is on Georgia,” Malzahn said. “I’m looking forward to playing one of our rivals.”
Malzahn is 51-25 in his sixth season at Auburn, won the 2013 SEC championship and is the only current coach in the conference to beat Alabama’s Nick Saban who is 2-3 against.
“He’s going to continue to be a really good coach for us,” Greene said. “And I’m really excited to work with him and to help provide Auburn fans the type of football program that they deserve.”