Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn has said repeatedly he’s in no hurry to take a head coaching job.

Could Vanderbilt have figured out a way to speed up Malzahn?

Nashville’s Tennessean newspaper reports that Vanderbilt has offered Malzahn in “the ballpark of $3 million per year.” That from a program that has the reputation of not committing enough resources to football?

Mr. SEC says the offer is for seven years and has more on Malzahn (including a healthy bit of skepticism). Malzahn, the long-time high school coach in Arkansas and a Fort Smith native, was named earlier this week as the Broyles Award winner, an honor that goes annually to the top assistant coach in college football.

It’s hard to figure Malzahn’s stock will get much higher. It’s hard to imagine he could command much more financially. A $3 million salary would put him above Bobby Petrino in the league's No. 4 spot among highest-paid coaches.

But is there a better job out there?

As we mentioned earlier this week, Urban Meyer’s departure from Florida has set the coaching dominoes in motion. Could Mississippi State come open if Dan Mullen goes to the Gators? Is Bobby Petrino really going to leave Arkansas?

Miami is still open. It’s doubtful that job gets filled until Florida does as coaches across the country wait to see what happens with Meyer’s old gig.

And if Malzahn is truly in no hurry, he could always stick around Auburn. That’s a risky proposition, however. Quarterback Cam Newton will likely leave for the NFL and the Tigers lose what could be the best offensive line in college football.

Maybe — and this is a big maybe — Malzahn rebuilds that offense to a championship level his stock gets higher. Big risk.

But is it a bigger risk than taking the Vandy job? Is that a bigger risk than passing up an offer and hoping something better comes along?

Malzahn might not be in hurry to make a decision about his future. Surely he can't take too long to figure it out, though.