Full speed ahead for Malzahn at ASU
New Arkansas State football coach Gus Malzahn reflected his past and shared his vision of the future Friday night at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ South Central Arkansas banquet.
“I am not your traditional kind of coach,” Malzahn said. “I am and always will be a highschool coach. I got the headcoaching ich about a year ago and when the Arkansas State job came open I took it. I wanted to come back home and the Red Wolves were a program on the rise. I want to build on the success they had last season.”
Malzahn said that he plans on building Arkansas State with homegrown players.
“My goal is not only to be in the top 25 every season, but I also want to have over 60 percent of our players to be from Arkansas.” he said. “I have faith not just in Arkansas athletes but Arkansas coaches as well.”
Named ASU’S head coach Dec. 14, Malzahn has additional FCA stops planned in Newport, Jacksonville, Miss., and Atlanta in a series that started April 11. He succeeded Hugh Freeze after two seasons as offensive coordinator at Auburn, calling plays for the Tigers’ 2010 national- championship team led by Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton.
Arkansas’ offensive coordinator for one season under Houston Nutt, Malzahn said he believes the state is big enough to have two major NCAA Division I programs. The Indians went 10- 3 last year, losing to Northern Illinois in the Godaddy. com Bowl after Freeze, in his first season at ASU, succeeded Houston Nutt at Ole Miss.
“Its a new day for the state of Arkansas,” Malzahn said. “One of my major goals is to get Arkansas State at the same level as the University of Arkansas. Its one of the reasons why we are doing the A- State Ambush
and Youtube show.”
Known as a coach who thinks outside the box, Malzahn said he is attempting to draw attention to Arkansas State by using anything at his disposal. Malzahn and his assistants visited 215 Arkansas high schools on a fiveday recruiting blitz that ended Friday.
“When I first took over as head coach, I said I was going to recruit this state like it never has been recruited before.” Malzahn said. “We wanted to make a statement to the athletes, coaches and fans that we will build this team on Arkansas talent.”
Another example of thinking outside the box is Malzahn’s Youtube based documentary series named “Red Wolves Revival.” The series features behind- the- scenes footage, interviews with players and the coaching staff and film footage of spring practice.
“We wanted to make our program more visible.” Malzahn said. “We want to open ourselves up to the state and to display the amazing talent that we have. We want to let the world see what we are trying to accomplish.”
Malzahn’s speech came on the eve of the Cliff Harris FCA golf tournament at the Magellan course in Hot Springs Village. The winning team competes in July at Benton’s Hurricane Country Club.