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The 76th Annual Newport Area Chamber of Commerce Banquet will be held Thursday, Feb. 23 at the Newport Country Club. The event will begin with a social hour at 5 p.m. Dinner starts at 6 p.m. at which time a short auction will be held as a 2012 Chamber fundraiser. Annual awards will be given following dinner including the small business, large business and citizen of the year.
This year’s featured speaker will be Coach Gus Malzahn, the ASU Red Wolves head football coach. Coach Malzahn is being presented by IberiaBank, Merchants & Planters Bank and Regions Bank of Newport.
A name highly recognized throughout Arkansas and the nation, Malzahn comes to Arkansas State after serving as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Auburn for the past three seasons. A native of Fort Smith, Malzahn was named the winner of the 2010 Frank Broyles Award, given annually to the nation's top collegiate assistant coach.
His innovative offense made an immediate and profound impact during his tenure at Auburn, highlighted by a record-setting offense in 2010 when the Tigers finished 14-0 and claimed the school's first national championship since 1957. The Auburn offense set nine school records, including points in a season (577), points per game (41.2), total yards (6,989), total offense (499.2), rushing yards (3,987), rushing touchdowns (41) and passing touchdowns (31). Malzahn's record-setting offense in 2010 led the Southeastern Conference and finished in the top 10 nationally in six statistical categories.
He coached Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton during the Tigers run to the 2011 BCS National Championship. Under Malzahn's direction, Newton later became the overall No. 1 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft after producing one of the best single-season quarterback performances in collegiate history. Newton threw for 2,908 yards and 30 touchdowns, while rushing for 1,586 yards and an additional 20 touchdowns as Auburn finished 14-0 and defeated Oregon 22-19 in the BCS title game.
He helped lead the Tigers to a 7-5 record this season. The Malzahn-led Auburn offense had four players named to the All-SEC Team, including sophomore running back Michael Dyer, junior tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen, senior offensive lineman Brandon Mosley and junior running back Onterio McCalebb.
Malzahn's arrival in 2009 and style of offense marked a drastic turnaround from the 2008 season when Auburn struggled offensively. In a two-year period, the Tigers improved from a tie for 110th to 7th in the nation in scoring offense (from 17.3 to 41.2) and from 104th to 7th in total offense. It also took Auburn just six games in 2009 to score more points than it did in all 12 games in 2008.
Before coaching at Auburn, Malzahn spent two seasons at Tulsa, coordinating a Golden Hurricane offense that finished first nationally in total offense in 2007 and 2008. Tulsa's offense in 2007 established nine team school records and 12 individual records. The Hurricane also set nine Conference USA team records, while Tulsa quarterback Paul Smith broke an NCAA record by throwing for at least 300 yards in 14 consecutive games.
Prior to his time at Tulsa, he coached one season at Arkansas, where he served as offensive coordinator, coached Heisman Trophy runner-up Darren McFadden and helped the Razorbacks finish fourth nationally in rushing offense at 228.5 yards per game. In fact, two of Malzahn's first three collegiate offenses ranked in the top 10 nationally in rushing, including the 2008 Tulsa team and 2006 Arkansas squad.
In 14 seasons as a high school head coach, Malzahn led seven teams to the state championship game and won three titles. Malzahn coached two quarterbacks, Josh Floyd and Rhett Lashlee, who set national passing records. Malzahn also tutored 2005 Gatorade, Parade Magazine and Rivals.com National Player of the Year Mitch Mustain at Springdale High School.
Malzahn is married to the former Kristi Otwell and they are the parents of two daughters, Kylie (22) and Kenzie (18).
Cost to attend the banquet is $25 per person and is open to the public. Tickets will not be given, however pre-payment is mandatory in order to reserve your seat. RSVP at the Chamber office at (870) 523-3618 or email director@newportarchamber.org.
The Newport Area Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to promoting the City of Newport and Jackson County by cultivating community involvement, encouraging business alliances, nurturing the growth and development of new and existing businesses, and creating educational opportunities for community youth.
The 76th Annual Newport Area Chamber of Commerce Banquet will be held Thursday, Feb. 23 at the Newport Country Club. The event will begin with a social hour at 5 p.m. Dinner starts at 6 p.m. at which time a short auction will be held as a 2012 Chamber fundraiser. Annual awards will be given following dinner including the small business, large business and citizen of the year.
This year’s featured speaker will be Coach Gus Malzahn, the ASU Red Wolves head football coach. Coach Malzahn is being presented by IberiaBank, Merchants & Planters Bank and Regions Bank of Newport.
A name highly recognized throughout Arkansas and the nation, Malzahn comes to Arkansas State after serving as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Auburn for the past three seasons. A native of Fort Smith, Malzahn was named the winner of the 2010 Frank Broyles Award, given annually to the nation's top collegiate assistant coach.
His innovative offense made an immediate and profound impact during his tenure at Auburn, highlighted by a record-setting offense in 2010 when the Tigers finished 14-0 and claimed the school's first national championship since 1957. The Auburn offense set nine school records, including points in a season (577), points per game (41.2), total yards (6,989), total offense (499.2), rushing yards (3,987), rushing touchdowns (41) and passing touchdowns (31). Malzahn's record-setting offense in 2010 led the Southeastern Conference and finished in the top 10 nationally in six statistical categories.
He coached Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton during the Tigers run to the 2011 BCS National Championship. Under Malzahn's direction, Newton later became the overall No. 1 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft after producing one of the best single-season quarterback performances in collegiate history. Newton threw for 2,908 yards and 30 touchdowns, while rushing for 1,586 yards and an additional 20 touchdowns as Auburn finished 14-0 and defeated Oregon 22-19 in the BCS title game.
He helped lead the Tigers to a 7-5 record this season. The Malzahn-led Auburn offense had four players named to the All-SEC Team, including sophomore running back Michael Dyer, junior tight end Philip Lutzenkirchen, senior offensive lineman Brandon Mosley and junior running back Onterio McCalebb.
Malzahn's arrival in 2009 and style of offense marked a drastic turnaround from the 2008 season when Auburn struggled offensively. In a two-year period, the Tigers improved from a tie for 110th to 7th in the nation in scoring offense (from 17.3 to 41.2) and from 104th to 7th in total offense. It also took Auburn just six games in 2009 to score more points than it did in all 12 games in 2008.
Before coaching at Auburn, Malzahn spent two seasons at Tulsa, coordinating a Golden Hurricane offense that finished first nationally in total offense in 2007 and 2008. Tulsa's offense in 2007 established nine team school records and 12 individual records. The Hurricane also set nine Conference USA team records, while Tulsa quarterback Paul Smith broke an NCAA record by throwing for at least 300 yards in 14 consecutive games.
Prior to his time at Tulsa, he coached one season at Arkansas, where he served as offensive coordinator, coached Heisman Trophy runner-up Darren McFadden and helped the Razorbacks finish fourth nationally in rushing offense at 228.5 yards per game. In fact, two of Malzahn's first three collegiate offenses ranked in the top 10 nationally in rushing, including the 2008 Tulsa team and 2006 Arkansas squad.
In 14 seasons as a high school head coach, Malzahn led seven teams to the state championship game and won three titles. Malzahn coached two quarterbacks, Josh Floyd and Rhett Lashlee, who set national passing records. Malzahn also tutored 2005 Gatorade, Parade Magazine and Rivals.com National Player of the Year Mitch Mustain at Springdale High School.
Malzahn is married to the former Kristi Otwell and they are the parents of two daughters, Kylie (22) and Kenzie (18).
Cost to attend the banquet is $25 per person and is open to the public. Tickets will not be given, however pre-payment is mandatory in order to reserve your seat. RSVP at the Chamber office at (870) 523-3618 or email director@newportarchamber.org.
The Newport Area Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to promoting the City of Newport and Jackson County by cultivating community involvement, encouraging business alliances, nurturing the growth and development of new and existing businesses, and creating educational opportunities for community youth.
