Jay Jacobs and Malzahn.jpg

Auburn athletics director Jay Jacobs wants stability in the football program under coach Gus Malzahn. (File photo)

Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs hopes his backing of football coach Gus Malzahn helps provide stability moving forward.

Jacobs discussed why he awarded Malzahn a one-year contract extension through 2020 following the disappointing 7-6 season last year during a radio appearance on Thursday.

"The expectations are high but it's difficult in this day and time because people just want to flip people out of here like pancakes, and I've had a history of doing that," Jacobs told SiriusXM's College Sports Nation. "But I think in this case with Gus, everything that I've seen from him in their recruiting, in the kind of man he is, he's the right man for Auburn for right now and for a long time to come."

Jacobs has maintained Malzahn is the "right guy for Auburn" and will be on the Plains for a "long, long time."

Malzahn is 27-13 overall and 13-11 in the SEC during his three seasons as Auburn's head coach at Auburn.

"I really like where our team is at," Malzahn said on the radio Thursday. "We've had four top 10 recruiting classes in a row so from a talent standpoint I feel very good about that. I really like this staff too, now I just got to keep this staff together. (The contract extension) was definitely a good thing as far as that goes."

Dating back to his three-year stint as offensive coordinator from 2009-2011, Auburn has won two SEC Championships and a BCS National Championship and lost in a title game with Malzahn on the coaching staff.

However, Auburn has lost five straight SEC home games and finished last in the SEC West last season after starting the season ranked No. 7 nationally.

"It's difficult because people demand instant gratification," Jacobs said. "We want to know right now, we don't want things to grow and be built. What we do need is we need stability. These guys here, this team here, they need stability. We need stability in this program.

"The other thing is, where are you going to find a better offensive mind than Gus Malzahn? Then with Kevin Steele running the defense. We've had great recruiting classes under Gus."

Jacobs did go on to say there are "no barriers" for Malzahn to have success at Auburn, which he feels provides all the resources necessary to win and do so "the right way" on and off the field.

"You don't hear the Auburn people talking about, 'Gus is on the hot seat or he's got to win eight or nine games,'" Jacobs said. "Auburn people appreciate - it's historical for us, it's how our history is, our past, is that we want things to be done the right way. ...

"I know he's going to get it done. We're giving him everything that he needs to get it done."