Mizzou football coach Eli Drinkwitz pens tribute to Gus Malzahn, who is retiring
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Mizzou coach Eli Drinkwitz thanked Gus Malzahn for launching his college coaching career.
- Malzahn announced his retirement after a 35-year career; was 2025 FSU OC.
- Coaches like Jonathan Wallace credited Malzahn for creating opportunities, coaching tree.
The college football world is paying tribute and giving flowers to legendary coach Gus Malzahn.
The offensive architect behind Auburn’s national title run with Cam Newton in 2010 and the program’s national title appearance in 2013 announced his retirement from coaching Monday on social media. Malzahn spent the 2025 season as Florida State’s offensive coordinator under head coach Mike Norvell.
Malzahn’s 35-year coaching journey — rising from coaching high school football in Arkansas to offensive coordinator and head coach at Auburn — resonated with coaches and fans of the sport. He also helped develop a coaching tree of young offensive minds currently at top programs, like Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz.
Drinkwitz penned his own heartfelt message to Malzahn on social media.
“Thank you for giving me the opportunity of a lifetime! You represented what it means to be called a ‘Coach,’” Drinkwitz said. “I know in this next chapter (you) will continue to ‘use your influence in a positive way.’
“See you soon & I’ll have the coffee ready!”
Mizzou’s head coach got his first college job as a quality control assistant on Malzahn’s offensive staff in 2010. He stayed on in 2011 under head coach Gene Chizik. Drinkwitz then followed Malzahn to Arkansas State in 2012 to be his running backs coach.
One of Drinkwitz’s first coaching jobs was as a volunteer at Springdale High School in Springdale, Arkansas, in 2004. Malzahn was the program’s head coach from 2001-05.
Across the state line, Kansas assistant head coach and running backs coach Jonathan Wallace gave his own heartfelt congratulations to Malzahn. Wallace was a quarterback and wide receiver at Auburn from 2012-15 and a graduate assistant for the next two years.
“A True Trailblazer!,” Wallace wrote on X. “Thank you for giving me an opportunity to start my coaching journey. You’ve been a blessing to me and my family in many ways! Enjoy retirement and your family!”
