Urban Meyer predicts Gus Malzahn will not return to head coaching

Gus Malzahn received a ton of praise for leading the Florida State offense in their win over Alabama last weekend. The longtime head coach turned offensive coordinator of the Seminoles made an instant impact in Week 1.

That has many wondering if he’ll return to being a program leader as soon as next season. Urban Meyer doesn’t see that happening, though, as he believes Malzahn would rather simply dial up an offense than deal with all the other responsibilities a head coach has in this new era of college football.

“I think Gus is done,” Meyer predicted, regarding whether Malzahn would seek another head coaching gig, via The Triple Option. “I think, in this new era, I think Gus wants — he’s a little bit like Chip Kelly in my mind. I know both of them pretty well. I don’t know Gus that well, but he’s a football nut job that wants to call plays.”

As long as Malzahn wants to stay, Mike Norvell would love to have him. Florida State kicked off a pivotal bounce-back campaign with its biggest win in quite some time, and its offensive coordinator might be the main man to thank for that.

“Having the opportunity to have Coach Malzahn come and be a part of our staff. It was special,” Norvell stated earlier in the offseason. “It’s somebody that I have a 20-year relationship with. All the respect in the world for the man, the coach.

“He’s somebody that infuses confidence in anybody around him because he knows what he wants to do. He knows what he wants it to look like, but it’s the belief that he’s able to pour into others for what it takes on that journey.”

Moreover, Norvell’s relationship with Malzahn goes way back before the Seminoles, as he actually worked under him at Tulsa in 2007 and 2008. There, Norvell was a GA, but the time left a major impression on him. Norvell realizes how special the opportunity is to have Malzahn on his staff.

“He’s been a very successful head football coach. The last time he was an offensive coordinator, he did win a national championship. To make the choice and the decision he made to come to Florida State. That is the purpose. That is the reason. We have the opportunity here to really do something special, and I think his focus is there on the offensive side of the ball,” Norvell added.

“He’s one of the best that have ever done it. But he also brings perspective of the big picture. He’ll continue to challenge every element within the organization just to push to be the best. And accomplish and do some of the things that he’s been able to do on his journey, and what we all aspire to be.”

We’ll see if Malzahn can keep up the good vibes for Florida State. So far, so good in Tallahassee. It’s looking like a home run hire for Norvell and the Seminoles at the moment.

— On3’s Dan Morrison contributed to this article.