Dec. 29, 2008
Auburn, Ala. -
The following is a transcript of the press conference featuring Auburn head football coach Gene Chizik and newly hired offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn.
Head Coach Gene Chizik
"Today is an exciting day for me personally, and it is an exciting day for Auburn football. Obviously there has been a lot of speculation of who our offensive coordinator would be. When we went to pursue this it was really neat because when (Auburn Athletics Director) Jay Jacobs and I talked about this job a couple of weeks ago, I told him that I have a plan. Part of that plan was my hires (for assistant coaches), that has to be part of your plan. One of the guys I was very adamant about was Gus Malzahn. It was really neat with how my plan unfolded exactly the way our schedule ordered for this whole thing to take place. It has really been kind of a neat deal to watch it unfold. When I went to hire an offensive coordinator there were a lot of things that I thought were very important. First of all, I was looking for the mark of a man. I think that is really important. The mark of the man is going to determine how your kids are treated and how they're coached. As I really did my homework on Gus, that was a huge part of the equation; that's always the first thing. Second, is a guy that can relate to players and can take a group of players, evaluate them and put them in a place where they can win. That was very important to me. The third thing that obviously everybody wants is to know how successful your offensive coordinator has been wherever he has been. We had to be on the same page philosophically. I felt that was important for Auburn. When it comes to our offense in this league we have to start with our running game. That is very important to me. We have to be on the same page. As Gus and I talked through this process, it was evident to me that I had the right guy in all of those areas. Obviously, it's not just about running the football, it's about moving the football. I want an offense that is going to be very productive in every way; an offense that moves the football and scores points. The bottom line is, that is all that matters. As this process unfolded I was very excited about Gus Malzahn. We have had some great discussions before and since he has been hired. He is an Auburn Tiger and we are looking forward to what he will bring to the table."
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On previous relationship with Gus Malzahn...
"With my defensive background, when you watch other people on film you are always looking for philosophies that give defenses problems. Over the last two years, I have had the chance to watch Tulsa on film and from a defensive standpoint I was very impressed each time. There was no previous relationship with Gus and myself, but he was one of the first guys I talked about with Jay Jacobs and laying down a plan at how we are going to be successful offensively. No previous relationship, but I had a great idea with where I wanted to go."
On Gus Malzahn's input on offensive coaching staff...
"I think it is really important. Staff chemistry to me is paramount. I think anyone in the coaching profession can tell you that, certainly it is no different here. Gus and I have already discussed some different guys, we are going to be on the same page with that. I want the transition for Gus to be as comfortable and natural as it can be."
On the importance of hiring assistants familiar with Malzahn's system...
"I think more importantly that there are so many great coaches out there. What is more important for me is finding the right fit now. Whether that is somebody that is more familiar with the system or less familiar with it, I don't know. That's where Gus and I will go in making the rest of the hires on offense. What I need to make sure of, is do I have the right fit for Auburn in so many ways. I am very adamant at making sure that happens. People want to ask what my timeline is. I don't have a timeline, when I have the right fit, I have the right person and the best person for Auburn, we will pull the trigger on it. Gus will be in on every facet of that decision making process."
On allowing Gus Malzahn to do his job...
"The bottom line is when you hire great people you have to give them the opportunity to run their show. It was no different when I was defensive coordinator. The way I work best is turn it over to me and trust me to get it done, that's the same way it will be with Gus. Obviously, whether it is offense, defense, or special teams I will have a working knowledge of what is going on. I wouldn't feel comfortable any other way. I don't want to micromanage. I think that is why you hire great people. I know, with Gus, what I am getting. I have seen it. I have done the homework on this one and I am very comfortable with Gus running the offense, period. Working knowledge, absolutely; Micromanage, absolutely not."
On Antonio Coleman, Jerraud Powers, and Sen'Derrick Marks future at Auburn...
"I have talked to them and we have had some good conversations. At the end of the day, we would like for all of those guys to be at Auburn for another year. Ultimately, that will be a decision for them and their families. We've had some conversation and at the end of the day, they have to do what they think is best for them."
On importance of hiring a good recruiter as coordinator...
"To me, a football coach has three parts: How are they as any X-O's guy; How are they with their players; And, how are they when they go into a living room and have to convince a young man to come to their university? At Auburn, I don't feel that we have to go for two-for-three or one-for-three, but all three for a guy that we are going to hire. His reputation as a recruiter is huge. That was part of the equation and I am very pleased that he brings it all to the table. That's why I am really excited about today."
On urgency of completing coaching staff...
"I think there is always some urgency to a degree. But you can't let the urgency of that override you getting the right fit. There is a fine line in there, I understand that. I am smart enough to understand that. You have to do what you think is the best thing to get the right people. Obviously, if I could I would have them all here already, but that is not realistic. I have to get the right guy. The sooner the better, that's not the deal breaker at all."
Offensive Coordinator Gus Malzahn
"It is a true honor for me to be here. I have been a lot of places. I came away, with the one stop I made here when I was coaching at Arkansas, with Auburn being the most impressive place-the tradition, fans, and the quality of football. It is a big moment for me to have the chance to come to Auburn and represent this university. I am here to do everything in my power to help us win. I am excited to take over the offense, just like Coach Chizik said, we are going to be a run/play-action team. People characterize me as a spread coach, but if you really look back at my history, we are going to play smash-mouth football. We are going to set up the pass with the run. I really think that the difference with most run/play-action teams is, we are going to throw the ball vertically down the field and do it quite often. That's what you will see from our offense. Once again, I am tickled to be here and proud to represent Auburn University."
On watching film...
"We got started on that today. I think that is the first step-assessing what you have and looking at your strengths and building your offense around that. My old high school background, you have to work with what you are given. This situation kind of fits that. I spent a lot of time today evaluating our strengths. Over the past three years, our offenses have been a little bit different each year. The reason being is that you have to adapt to your strengths. That is what I am in the process of doing now and also recruiting to fill the voids that we have."
On starting recruiting...
"We started looking at film and assessing our needs and trying to find the right fit to the pieces of the puzzle."
On Malzahn's experience coaching in the SEC...
"I really think anytime you have experience in this league it will do nothing but help you. It was a great experience for me. I had the chance to become familiar with some of the defensive coordinators and the speed of the game. The SEC is the best conference in college football. I had the chance to see the actual speed. That will be important when I am looking for players to fit what I am looking for. To (already) be familiar with that will be nothing but a positive."
On Kodi Burns and Lee Ziemba, both players Malzahn recruited while at Arkansas...
"I recruited those two young men when I was at Arkansas, and when I was coaching at Springdale High School I actually coached against them. I know their families well. They are two very good football players. Kodi Burns called me and I had the chance to talk to him. I am in the process of talking to the other quarterbacks as well. We'll get that done tonight."
On his offensive system at Tulsa...
"I think you will see a lot of similarities as far as our pace. The first year I was at Tulsa, I think we ran it more than we passed it. We actually had some offensive lineman step up so that we could run the ball. That's what I was talking about earlier with assessing our strengths. We will build around our strengths for next year. You will see the same philosophy - the pace, the run/play-action, the throw the ball down field. That won't change."
On analyzing returning starters...
"I think anytime you come into a new situation, it is a new slate and a new chance to step up and earn a position. We will go from there."
On coaching in Tulsa's bowl game...
"I have a great opportunity. The coach at Tulsa was great to me. I feel like it is really important for me to finish with those players. I am extremely close to my players, I have always been. I am going to do everything in my power to help Tulsa win that bowl game. I think the Auburn recruits will get a visual of what exactly they will see on the field next year."
On run-to-pass ratio...
"You have got to be balanced and you have to take what the defense gives you. You have to be able to run the football. You won't see a lot of straight, drop-back passing. We are going to run down hill and have a physical, hard-nosed approach. I am not just talking about the backs and offensive line, I am talking about quarterbacks and receivers. I think that is very important to establish that early."
On working under defensive-minded head coach...
"His background may be defense, but Coach Chizik knows football. I think each situation is different, but this one was ideal for me. This is kind of like one of those dream jobs for me personally, a chance to coach in the SEC and get back to my experiences at Auburn. We actually won that football game that day and the Auburn crowd was classy. The atmosphere was second to none. I went a way from this place and talked to my wife, she said the same thing about the stands. I just knew there was something special. With a lot of my coaching friends around the country, anytime you hear anything about Auburn it is always positive. That has a whole lot to do with it."
On Coach Chizik...
"Of course, I am in my own little world over there in Tulsa, trying to do everything to win. I am just tickled to death to be here and get the chance to work with Coach Chizik. He is one of the best in the business. I am here to help him win and we're going to."
