MORGANTOWN, W. Va. — If there is to be a football coaching change at UCF following a dismal 2024 campaign, the decision will come from above Gus Malzahn.
Following Saturday evening’s 31-21 loss to West Virginia, one which resigned the Knights to their seventh loss in eight games and ended their consecutive bowl game streak at eight years, Malzahn refuted rumors floated earlier in the week that he could consider retirement.
“Yeah, I don’t know where that came from. I’m not retiring,” the 59-year-old coach said.
FootballScoop’s John Brice wrote Monday in his coaching carousel piece that it was “worth monitoring things” at Central Florida, adding that Malzahn was “well-positioned to retire if he chooses to do so.” CBS Sports, in a story coauthored by Brandon Marcello regarding Deion Sanders’ future, suggested UCF would be an intriguing fit for Coach Prime if Malzahn were to retire due to his Florida upbringing and recruiting chops within the state’s most powerful programs.
Malzahn led the Knights to consecutive nine-win seasons in 2021 and ’22, but he has since posted the first two losing records of his 13-year career. Overall, UCF is 28-23 under Malzahn ahead of its home finale Friday night against Utah, including a 5-12 record in conference games since joining the Big 12.
In July 2023, Malzahn agreed to a four-year contract extension that runs through the 2027 season. He is due to make $5 million next year and $5.5 million in 2026 and ’27, according to a term sheet provided to USA TODAY by UCF’s athletics association.
That would put the ball in the court of UCF athletic director Terry Mohajir and Alexander Cartwright, the university’s president since 2020. Both were in attendance for Saturday’s game in West Virginia.
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