The SEC has had multiple coach firings before the end of the regular season. Auburn is the latest SEC school to say goodbye to its head coach. The Tigers fired Gus Malzahn following Saturday’s win against Mississippi State.
Overall, Auburn went 6-4 on the season, but didn’t get any big-time wins over elite competition. Malzahn coached at Auburn for eight seasons and amassed a 68-35 record for the Tigers. He helped the Tigers make the 2013 national championship, where they fell to the Florida State Seminoles in a last-minute defeat.
Auburn pulled off some miraculous, unforgettable wins (especially against Alabama) during Malzahn’s tenure. Now, the Tigers are looking for a new coaching staff and will foot a massive bill to pay for Malzahn’s buyout.
Auburn recently extended Malzahn on a seven-year, $49 million deal. Now, it will be faced with paying a buyout of nearly $40 million for Malzahn and his assistants.
The Tigers are coming off a 9-4 season, but Malzahn was on the hot seat. Auburn’s chief rivals Alabama, LSU and Georgia are having great success, and it has been making Auburn fans squirm. Now, a couple days before signing day, Auburn will seek a new head coach.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to the news of Malzahn’s dismissal:
Thank you @CoachGusMalzahn for everything you’ve done for me and for Auburn. Thank you for believing in me and taking a chance on a “track guy” when no one else would. I appreciate everything you have done for the me and the program and I am thankful to play for you🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
— Anthony Schwartz (@TheRealF1ash) December 13, 2020
Kristi Malzahn on Facebook pic.twitter.com/VAKbjTf0kE
— Auburn Gold Mine (@AUGoldMine) December 13, 2020
Why fire Malzahn before signing day Wednesday? Auburn class ranked #42 & #12 in SEC. Recruiting hit the skids: only hit on Nix & Tank recently. @680TheFan
— buck belue (@buckbelue8) December 14, 2020
Want the Iron Bowl to be bigger and meaner with even more cheating and spite?
There’s only one call to make, Auburn… pic.twitter.com/Mz4VWsGlkL
— Mark Nagi (@MarkNagi) December 13, 2020
🤦🏾♂️…
— Owen Pappoe (@TheFreak) December 13, 2020
Gus is gone. Guess 6-4 seasons were not that “solid.” As far as the money, Auburn boosters can cut that check by passing the hat. @680TheFan
— buck belue (@buckbelue8) December 13, 2020
In 2020, l found out something most of these coaches don’t care about their players, just the money. Find another college coach to care about their players as much as @CoachGusMalzahn did for us and ill be a fan. Its bigger than a record, its more in a locker-room than a record.
— Kj Britt (@K_Britt10) December 13, 2020
Auburn fires Gus Malzahn
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 13, 2020
Auburn has fired Gus Malzahn, per @Brett_McMurphy pic.twitter.com/6wWfBgcxse
— PFF College (@PFF_College) December 13, 2020
Auburn AD Allen Greene on the future of the Auburn football program: pic.twitter.com/bWzhF3XSVF
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) December 13, 2020
In wake of Gus Malzahn's firing, if no assistants or his strength coach are retained, they will be owed combined total of around $8.3 million, though final amount will depend on termination dates and coaches' duty to mitigate.
So, Auburn's buyout tab could be around $30 million.
— Steve Berkowitz (@ByBerkowitz) December 13, 2020
Trying to tell you, fans don’t know nothing. https://t.co/iLfu794jSL
— Kj Britt (@K_Britt10) December 13, 2020
I’ll defend my brothers no matter what, won’t take anything from anybody…
— Anthony Schwartz (@TheRealF1ash) December 13, 2020
