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Gus Malzahn, UCF name former Auburn RB Kam Martin as Knights' new running backs coach

Screen Shot 2024-05-28 at 9.09.17 AMby: Kaiden Smith03/01/23kaiden__smith
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(Miller/Icon Sportswire)

UCF head coach Gus Malzahn announced Wednesday that former Auburn running back Kam Martin will be the Knights’ new running backs coach via Twitter. Martin played for Auburn under Malzahn from 2016 to 2019 during his eight-year head coaching tenure with the Tigers.

Martin finished his collegiate career with 1,564 rushing yards, 193 receiving yards, and 9 total touchdowns, and transitioned to his coaching career in 2021 where he was an offensive analyst for UCF under Malzahn in his first season at the helm.

He spent the 2022 season as the running backs coach at Incarnate Word, where he helped the Southland Conference’s best rushing attack, which averaged 215.3 yards per game. He returns to Orlando for his third reunion with Malzahn.

Regarding the hire of Martin, Malzahn took to Twitter, announcing the hire and expressing optimism towards Martin’s future in his second tenure with the Knights. Malzahn tweeted, “Excited to welcome @TeamKamMartin back to Orlando!! He’s going to do a great job leading our running backs! #ChargeOn.”

Gus Malzahn compares tenure at Auburn to time at UCF

Gus Malzahn made some amazing memories at Auburn, but now his focus is on getting UCF to the top of the college football world. In an appearance on The Paul Finebaum Show, the leader of the Knights compared his tenure with the Tigers to the time he’s spent in Orlando thus far.

“It’s two different places, there’s no doubt,” began Malzahn. “Of course I’ve told you before, I loved my time at Auburn. I was so blessed to be the head coach there for eight years. Coordinator there for three years. Won a championship, almost won two. Had some really good times.

“UCF is a young school. It’s up and coming. Orlando’s obviously different than Auburn. You know, Orlando’s a great place to live. Some of the best brands in the world are here. There’s no NFL team, so when you look at the NIL and the future of college football and what it looks like, I think we’re in a super spot.”

After amassing a record of 68-35 with the Tigers, Malzahn went 9-4 in his first season with UCF. Additionally, he was successful against the SEC during his program’s bowl game, as the Knights defeated Florida in the 2021 Gasparilla Bowl, 29-17.

The two schools may be different, but Gus Malzahn is trying to find the same success level he had at Auburn with UCF. If history is any indicator, the football world shouldn’t bet against him.