Malzahn a good hire

December 28, 2008

By Jon Johnson

It looks like Gene Chizik got a good one in offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn.
Though Chizik has been slow at hiring assistants, give him an A+ on getting Malzahn from Tulsa and taking James Willis back from Tommy Tuberville’s staff.
Malzahn’s offenses at Tulsa, and at Arkansas before that, have been among the best in the country. He seems to do an excellent job mixing the pass and run.
And Willis, in my opinion, was a big hire. It appeared at first as though no current coach on the Tuberville staff would be hired by Chizik. Willis has a great reputation as a recruiter, and as a linebackers coach.
With Willis back on board, it should help Auburn keep some of the commits who were leaning in other directions since the Tuberville departure.