Gus Malzahn Could Be A Hot Coaching Commodity for The SEC

Sep 29, 2012; Jonesboro, AR, USA; Arkansas State Red Wolves head coach Gus Malzahn talks to his team during a timeout in the game against the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers at Liberty Bank Stadium. Western Kentucky defeated Arkansas State 26-13. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-US PRESSWIRE

Gus Malzahn ended the 2010 season one of hottest commodities in the SEC. The college football coaching landscape is fickle though, and after balking at some noteworthy opportunities, Malzahn’s stock cooled. Regaining heat lost is something of a rarity in college football; typically, a coach has to strike while that proverbial iron is hot. But come coaching carousel season, Malzahn could well be the It Name once again with the tremendous season he is having at Arkansas State.

Malzahn’s might be holding a single rose with two prominent suitors vying for his attention — and yes, that’s a “The Bachelor” analogy. Reader, I know you have a wife or girlfriend who’s made you watch; or a husband/boyfriend. Or hell, maybe you watch of your own volition. I’m not judging. Regardless of how or why, you’re almost certainly well aware of the show’s premise, and the its overly wrought dramatics in the conclusion. Bachelor chooses between one of two contestants with certain attractive qualities, but offsetting baggage.

Arkansas is going to be one such contestant for a hot name coach’s attention at season’s end. Malzahn makes sense: he has SEC experience, his variation on the spread offense would be easily implemented following Bobby Petrino’s tenure in Fayetteville, and he’s even in the same state. Arkansas also has talent from Petrino’s abruptly ended time there, just two years removed from a Sugar Bowl appearance. Even this year, the Razorbacks were an en vogue preseason pick to shake up the SEC West.

Auburn might also be vying for a new head coach. The program has taken a decided downturn since Malzahn raised eyebrows by taking the Arkansas State vacancy. The Tigers are struggling offensively, but War Eagle brass and fans know what to anticipate with Malzahn crafting the play calling. Auburn would also pay well, which Malzahn is well aware. When he was the hot commodity in college football, AU offered hims $1.3 million to remain its offensive coordinator.

But would Malzahn want to replace his former colleague, Gene Chizik, just two years after he won the BCS championship? Would Auburn administrators want to bring in a member of Chizik’s regime? Most importantly, will there even be a vacancy for Malzahn to consider? There are numerous conclusions to jump to currently without basis in anything beyond speculation.

What can be stated affirmatively, though, is that Malzahn’s heat is back. Tessitore Magic failed to salvage the competitiveness of this week’s Sun Belt Tuesday installment, but Malzahn had a stage on which to remind the college football-watching nation of his offensive genius.

Malzahn has Arkansas State unbeaten in the Sun Belt and humming along with a scoring average approaching 33 points per game, striking a balance between the pass and rush. He’s made effective use of both quarterback Ryan Aplin and running backs David Oku and Rocky Hayes. Of course, Malzahn also inherited a more favorable situation in Jonesboro than what may be waiting him elsewhere.

Malzahn has something good going at Arkansas State. He’s coaching for a Sun Belt championship with an investment from his university to build something unprecedented. While all levels of coaching are games of keeping up with the Joneses, in Jonesboro that’s something much different than in the SEC. Moreover, Malzahn may not be interested in pursuing a similar career path to Todd Graham. He also defied expectations once by re-upping at Auburn after the 2010 regular season.

Should he remain in the ever-improving Sun Belt to build his own powerhouse, could Malzahn regain his heat a third time — or at least stay in the microwave to keep warm? After all, ABC casts Bachelor retreads for two seasons, but never a third. College football has precedent proving how difficult career mobility when not taking immediate opportunities.

Considering the 2008 MAC championship, a crossroad for both ends of the spectrum. Brady Hoke led Ball State there at 12-0, and parlayed that success into the vacancy at San Diego State, where he snapped a 12-year bowl drought. Hoke’s success at SDSU has him now coaching one of the foremost programs in all college football.

By contrast, Turner Gill’s Buffalo Bulls won that MAC title clash. He balked at a chance to leave that off-season, and a lackluster campaign the next year cooled his momentum. He landed at Kansas, historically an unfavorable destination, and was railroaded out of Lawrence without much (any?) chance of establishing his own program.

Malzahn will indeed have his choice suitors from the SEC, but Arkansas State retaining his leadership would be a major win for the Sun Belt — like The Bachelor contestant with no lines in Episode 1 getting the final rose.

Bachelor references are henceforth banned, please continue with your normal college football discussion.