The Washington Post reports that Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn will accept Vanderbilt's head coaching job, succeeding Robbie Caldwell.

Malzahn, regarded as an architect of potent spread offenses at Arkansas, Tulsa, and Auburn as an offensive coordinator, will be a head coach for the first time at the collegiate level. But it's not his first stint as a head coach: at Springdale High School in Arkansas, Malzahn coached Mitch Mustain and a slew of other FBS players to an undefeated season in 2005. His team outscored its opponents 664-118 en route to a 14-0 record and a state championship.

It is unclear whether Malzahn will coach Auburn's offense in the BCS National Championship Game, but chances are he will. (The cynic would say that's because Malzahn will never get a player like Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton at Vanderbilt.) But if he's staying with Auburn through that game, Malzahn will have a chance to repeat recent history.

Florida offensive coordinator Dan Mullen accepted an offer to become the head coach at Mississippi State in late 2008, but stayed with the Gators through that year's BCS National Championship Game against Oklahoma. Florida won, 24-14, and Mullen earned a second BCS title as Urban Meyer's offensive coordinator.

For more on Vanderbilt, check out SB Nation's Anchor of Gold.