After one season back in the role as Auburn’s play caller, Gus Malzahn announced he’s turning the offense over to offensive coordinator Chad Morris.

“You don’t hire a guy like Chad Morris unless you’re going to do that,” Malzahn said.

Malzahn was Auburn’s play caller — as the offensive coordinator and the head coach — for six years before stepping back in 2016 and giving control to Rhett Lashlee. Malzahn decided to take over again before the 2019 season, and Auburn went 9-4. Former offensive coordinator, Kenny Dillingham, assisted Malzahn until he left for a position as offensive coordinator at Florida State, where he was reunited with Mike Norvell who gave Dillingham his first coaching position.

On December 10, Malzahn hired one of his closest friends, Morris, who had recently been fired from his position as head coach at Arkansas. Morris arrived for bowl practices, but he did not take an active role during the Outback Bowl. Instead, he took time to get to know the offense. Quarterback Bo Nix was impressed with Morris and said before the bowl game that he was excited to work with him.

Now that Morris has been with the Tigers for over a month, Malzahn said they’re going to “turn him loose.”

“Chad Morris, in my opinion, is one of the best offensive minds in college football,” Malzahn said. “He’s going to take our offense and he’s going to run with it. I’m very excited about that.”

Working together on the same offense is something Malzahn and Morris have been talking about for years, Malzahn said. Their relationship goes back more than 15 years. They became friends as high school coaches “way back when.” Morris felt he needed to make a change at his program in Texas, so he went to go see Malzahn coach in Arkansas. Since then, Malzahn and Morris have crossed paths, but this is the first time they’ve been on the same staff together.

Besides his skills as an offensive coach, Morris also brings his ability to recruit to Auburn. Morris is known to have strong ties in Texas and Florida, and he helped Arkansas bring in one of its best signing classes in school history.

“So, very excited that he’s a part and going to run our offense at Auburn,” Malzahn said.