AUBURN, Ala. – Like millions of Americans, Gus Malzahn is working from home these days.
"Having to get used to a new routine, that's really the biggest difference for me right now," the Auburn football coach said in a video interview with Andy Burcham, the Voice of the Auburn Tigers. "We've been adjusting on a weekly basis, sometimes on a daily basis.
"Of course, we're recruiting every day. In the meantime, we're talking to our players on a daily basis, too. Really more than anything it's just getting in that routine of something new, which is definitely different to be at home. You're talking about a guy who's been coaching for 30 years. It's been an adjustment, there's no doubt about that."
Adjusting to this new normal to help stop the spread of COVID-19, Malzahn conducts videoconference staff meetings on Mondays and Fridays, along with 90-minute recruiting meetings.
"I'm not a big technology guy, but I'm getting to where I can operate a staff meeting on Zoom, getting more comfortable with it and more used to it," he said. "It looks like we're going to be doing that a while."
To communicate with Auburn's student-athletes, who are dispersed throughout the Southeast and beyond, Malzahn records a weekly video message that includes medical advice from team physician Dr. Michael Goodlett and individual workout options from director of athletic performance Ryan Russell.
Beginning this week, SEC coaches are allowed to provide two hours of weekly virtual instruction with their teams. Auburn is using that time for coordinators to install offense and defense on Mondays and Wednesdays via Zoom, with position coaches meeting for 30 minutes with their groups on Thursdays.
"That way, when they get back, we can hit the ground running," Malzahn said.
The Tigers have adjusted to Auburn University's transition to remote instruction, he said.
"We've got great kids," Malzahn said. "It doesn't surprise me they're off to a great start. We've just got to finish strong now."
Even in a season of social distancing, recruiting continues unabated.
"You recruit on FaceTime," Malzahn said. "Every day we're on the phone with recruits and their parents. Really trying your best to develop a relationship over a phone. FaceTime is a great way to do that. Our coaches have done a good job. We're on the phone seven days a week recruiting.
"Our philosophy is, if we've got a long-term relationship, we can compete with anybody in the country. This break, even though it's tough and challenging, there's some very good relationships built before that, that will help us get through."
One of Malzahn's selling points to prospective Tigers is the stability of Auburn's coaching staff, including fifth-year defensive coordinator Kevin Steele, special teams coordinator Larry Porter, in his fourth season, and a host of veteran assistants with deep ties to Auburn.
"When I look at our staff, I see stability," he said. "In our league, you don't see a lot of that. I would compare the stability of our staff against any in our league. We think that's really going to help us for the future. Recruits want to be coached by the guys who recruited them. That doesn't happen a whole lot of times in this league but it's going to happen here at Auburn."
Coming off a nine-win season and an Iron Bowl victory, Malzahn navigates new challenges while looking forward to his eighth season as Auburn's head coach.
"Our team grew," he said. "We ended the season well the last regular season game. We've got a lot of experience. We have a whole bunch of guys who just went through the toughest schedule in college football. They know what it feels like, and they're hungry. That's the biggest thing for me, our players are hungry. I really think our staff is hungry. So we're ready to get back into this thing and get it going."
The coach who's used to being in the office by 6 a.m. is adjusting to working from home, enjoying unexpected extra family time while expressing appreciation for those fighting the pandemic on the front lines.
"You think about the first responders and the people working at the hospital," Malzahn said. "There are so many people who are doing wonderful things for our community, and everything's bonded together during this time.
"I hope that once this is all over, we can look back and we can grow, and we can be better people. Anytime you face adversity, it gives you the opportunity to grow. We're facing major adversity in a lot of different ways right now. I'm hopeful that our perspective when we get through this will help everybody in the way they approach life."
Jeff Shearer is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jeff_shearer