All for Tennessee
Fansided

Tennessee football: Ranking all SEC coaches for 2020

By Caleb Calhoun

GAINESVILLE, FL- SEPTEMBER 21: Head coach Jeremy Pruitt of the Tennessee Volunteers looks on during the first half of the game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 21, 2019 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
GAINESVILLE, FL- SEPTEMBER 21: Head coach Jeremy Pruitt of the Tennessee Volunteers looks on during the first half of the game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 21, 2019 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
8 of 15
Next
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images /

Pick Analysis. 8th year (9th overall). player. 842. Scouting Report. Auburn. Gus Malzahn. 8

Record at Auburn: 62-31 (33-23); Overall record: 71-34

Yes, he’s been on the hot seat a few times. Losing to Tennessee football at home Jeremy Pruitt’s first year in 2018 was a bad look for Gus Malzahn. However, he consistently has the Auburn Tigers relevant, and two division titles along with an SEC title during his eight-year run is not a bad run. It’s enough for us to call him a middle of the pack SEC coach.

To be fair, Malzahn would be in the upper-echelon of coaches in other conferences. His problem is the fact that he hasn’t been able to maintain his status as a genius offensive mind. Malzahn’s offenses aren’t as fun to watch as they were in his early tenure, and he does just enough to make Auburn fans they should keep him on a yearly basis.

This year, with the 10-game SEC-only schedule, Malzahn will have the chance to prove if his program can compete with the elite consistency or not. He may be the one coach who will be judged in a major way based on what he does this year. After all, he’s got some returning talent, and eight years on the job should be enough time to keep a program like Auburn’s elite.

Playing the Vols at home again will make for an interesting battle, but the real thing that’s buying Malzahn time is getting a win seemingly every other year against the Alabama Crimson Tide. He at least beats them at home most of the time, and that is what’s led to a couple of titles in the past as well. Not every coach beats Nick Saban multiple times.

Home/Vols Football