UCF Football: Can the “Gus Bus” work in Orlando?

The “Gus Bus” rolls to Orlando, Florida. Can Gus Malzahn succeed with UCF football? 

When Danny White and Josh Heupel left Orlando Florida’s sunny shores, for the rolling hills of Knoxville, Tennessee, there was a void left at UCF.  Last week, the Knights hired Terry Mohajir as the new AD from Arkansas State, where he held the same position. Mohajir did not waste much time finding a new head coach for the Knights’ football program hiring former Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn this past Monday.

While on The Plain, Malzahn won 68 games (39 in the SEC), won an SEC title, played for another, and took the Tigers to the BCS National title game in 2013. Malzahn did win a National Title at Auburn while the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach under Gene Chizik, coaching Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton. Despite winning 66% of his games and defeating arch-rival Alabama three times, Auburn decided to part ways with their former offensive coordinator.

The Auburn administration cited losing recruiting ground in Georgia, specifically the Atlanta metro area. Malzahn and his $21 million buyout head to the Bounce House to continue a winning tradition at Central Florida. Will this work? Is hiring Malzahn the right signal to send when attempting to disrupt the college football mainstream?

Time will tell. Here is a look at the Central Florida Knights’s new coach.