One of the keys to Auburn’s recent success, Gene Chizik feels, has to do with staff continuity.

All but one of the assistant coaches who came to Auburn with Chizik before the 2009 season remain.

Defensive line coach Tracy Rocker left for the same position with the Tennessee Titans in February, and Chizik replaced him with Mike Pelton, a guy who knew his way around the Plains from four years playing at Auburn.

This offseason could shape up to be the most tumultuous yet for Chizik and his staff.

“There are going to be guys who are going to be sought after as head coaches, there are going to be all kinds of different variables, but I’ve always placed a very high amount of importance on staff continuity,” Chizik said. “But at the end of the day, guys have to do what they think is best for them and their families, just like I have had to do for my whole career.

“Again, some guys will have opportunities, some won’t. But again, they will do what is in the best interest of their families.”

The hottest commodity on Chizik’s staff — for the second year in a row — is offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn.

The third-year Tigers coordinator turned down serious head coaching overtures from Vanderbilt and Maryland last year to come back to Auburn, with a 260 percent raise to $1.3 million annually, the highest salary on record for an assistant coach in the country.

This year, Malzahn’s name is being floated again for soon-to-be-openings at North Carolina and Ole Miss.

Malzahn reiterated the stance he’s taken every time he’s asked about his head coaching future after the Iron Bowl on Saturday: He wants to be a head coach someday, it’s got to be the exact right situation and he’s just focused on his Auburn offense.

But Chizik seems to have steeled himself for the possibility of life without Malzahn. And any Auburn assistants Malzahn might take with him if he goes.

“Typically, when there are changes, they all happen at different times,” Chizik said. “So I’ve got a plan in place for however it happens and whether that’s early or late (in the offseason).”

Chizik also — if public perception is to be believed — has some decisions to make about whether to retain some of his assistants.

Namely, defensive coordinator Ted Roof, a favorite punching bag for Auburn fans over the past three seasons.

The Tigers are ranked 79th in scoring defense (29.3 points per game), 79th in total defense (405.8 yards per game), 99th in rush defense (194.8 yards per game) and 85th in pass efficiency defense (137.0).

This year’s Auburn squad is 289 yards away from breaking the Tigers’ all-time mark in yards allowed — 5,157, set last year — and would have to give up 189 yards or fewer in a bowl to avoid setting the Tigers’ all-time season mark in yards allowed per game — 389.1, set in 1979.

But the defense has been far from the Tigers’ only problem this year.

Malzahn’s offense ranks 104th in the nation in yards per game (328.2 yards per game), 85th in yards per play (5.17) and 82nd in scoring (24.3 points per game).

The Tigers’ previous lows under Malzahn came in 2009, when they ranked 17th in scoring (33.3 points per game), 16th in yards per game (431.8) and 25th in yards per play (6.1).

Auburn’s 2008 offense — the one that helped bring about wholesale changes to the coaching staff — ranked 104th in yards per game (302.3), 105th in yards per play (4.5) and 111th in points per game (17.3).

Chizik said it’s evaluation time. Not that it’s anything new for him.

“That includes assessing everything. That includes players, coaches, managers, trainers, everything,” Chizik said. “We were 14-0 last year and I did the same thing. I don’t think that’s anything unusual. That’s what you always have to do to keep moving forward.

“We’re always trying to look for a better way and a better result. We’ll assess that and at the end of the day we’ll do what we think is best for Auburn.”

Though Chizik didn’t tip his hand at what — if anything — that means for his staff.

“I believe we have to get much better everywhere,” Chizik said.