Auburn chooses good fit

— Welcome home, Gus.

That was Pat Sullivan’s pledge, verbatim. That was Jay Gogue’s and Jay Jacobs’ firmhanded statement. And that sums up just about the entire Auburn community’s heartfelt feelings toward the man so instrumental to arguably its beloved football program’s greatest moment.

Gus Malzahn, wearing a black suit, white shirt and orange tie with his signature black-framed glasses, opened his address to hundreds of reporters and university supporters before him at the Auburn Athletic Complex Rane Room with the battle cry of two oh-so-familiar words.

War Eagle.

“I’m just tickled to death. It’s a true honor for me to be the head coach of the Auburn Tigers,” said Malzahn, hired Tuesday to guide the football team’s rebuilding effort. “I spent three years here, and I can honestly say it was the three best years of our lives, for my family and myself.

“I feel connected, forever, to be an Auburn man with an Auburn family.”

Malzahn, 47, was the Tigers’ offensive coordinator from 2009-2011, the first three years of his head coaching predecessor Gene Chizik’s tenure. Together, Chizik, Malzahn, quarterback Cam Newton and the Tigers became college’s football national champions in 2010.

Malzahn was part of three bowl victories on Chizik’s staff: the 2010 Outback Bowl, the 2011 BCS national championship and 2011 Chick-fil-A Bowl.

Malzahn left after last season to pursue his first head coaching opportunity at Arkansas State. He led the Red Wolves to a 9-3 record and Sun Belt Conference championship.

Meanwhile, Auburn went the other direction. The Tigers were 3-9 and went winless in the SEC for the first time in 32 years, leading to Chizik’s firing Nov. 25.

“One of the great Auburn traditions is to welcome family home and to make them feel like it’s home,” said Bill Stone, Auburn’s alumni association president . “That’s real easy tonight, because it’s more like a family reunion.”

The four-man search committee of athletic director Jacobs, former Heisman winners Sullivan and Bo Jackson and former fullback/successful businessman Mac Crawford needed nine days to bring Malzahn home.

“Rome wasn’t built in a day. You’ve got to have patience,” Jackson said. “He’s facing an empty lot. He’s got to go move dirt, lay a foundation, and start to rebuild a house.

“Gus will rebuild this house the best way he sees fit.”

Sports, Pages 23 on 12/05/2012

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