Florida State football”s offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn has announced his retirement after an impressive 35-year coaching career. This news was confirmed by the school on February 2. Stepping into the role of offensive coordinator will be Tim Harris Jr., who previously served as the wide receivers coach for the program.
In a statement released by FSU, Malzahn expressed his desire to “focus on the next chapter of his life” and spend more time with his family. “After 35 years, it”s time for me to step away from coaching,” Malzahn stated. “I am excited to spend more time with my family and focus on the next chapter of my life. I want to thank Coach Mike Norvell for giving me the opportunity to coach at such a prestigious program. I will continue to follow Florida State, and I believe great things are ahead for the program under Coach Norvell”s leadership and for the offense under Tim Harris.”
This transition occurs as the Seminoles have been actively reshaping their roster through the transfer portal, including the addition of quarterback Ashton Daniels from Auburn. While Malzahn”s offensive scheme seemed to align well with Daniels” skill set, Harris is expected to maintain a similar style as he takes over the offensive duties.
Harris is not new to the role of offensive coordinator; he previously held that position at Florida International and UCF. Notably, during his time in Orlando, Malzahn primarily called plays while Harris served as co-offensive coordinator. In 2024, he took full responsibility for playcalling at UCF, where the team achieved a top-20 ranking in the nation for offense, including a seventh-place finish for rushing offense.
Coach Norvell expressed gratitude toward Malzahn for his contributions during his single season in Tallahassee and praised Harris for his comprehensive understanding of the offensive scheme. “I want to thank Coach Malzahn for his effort and dedication to our program over the last 14 months,” Norvell remarked. “He did a wonderful job coordinating our offense and calling plays in 2025, and he has set a strong foundation for us to continue building on in 2026 behind the coordination of Tim Harris and the multiple other assistant coaches who are returning. Coach Harris has a complete understanding of the offensive scheme, and his ability to effectively share that knowledge with his players will continue to be a benefit for our offense.”
Under Malzahn”s guidance, FSU led the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in total offense and rushing offense during the 2025 season, marking the second time in four years that the Seminoles topped the conference in both areas. The team”s average of 472.1 yards per game ranked sixth nationally, while their rushing average of 218.7 yards per game placed them 11th in the country. This represented the program”s highest rushing average in a season since 1995.
Liam Rooney, who covers Florida State athletics for the Tallahassee Democrat, can be reached via email at [email protected] or on Twitter @__liamrooney.
