UCF coach Gus Malzahn leaves immediately after loss to Cincinnati to tend to hospitalized daughter

UCF head coach Gus Malzahn had to rush to the airport following the Knights’ 56-21 loss to Cincinnati on Saturday.

Malzahn’s daughter, Kenzie Stander, who lives in Birmingham, Alabama, gave birth to her first child (a son) earlier this week, UCF said in a statement provided to the Orlando Sentinel. His daughter was readmitted to the hospital due to complications, but Malzahn said she is now stable and doing well, the statement read.

Malzahn had already been planning to fly Saturday afternoon from Cincinnati to Birmingham to visit them even before his daughter was readmitted, the team said.

Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell shared in his post-game press conference that Malzahn had to catch a private flight after the game to visit Stander.

“If anything, say a prayer for him,” Fickell said. “Make sure he’s alright and that his daughter is OK.”

Despite the family emergency, Malzahn met with reporters following the loss and discussed UCF’s performance against the third-ranked Bearcats. The Knights allowed 476 yards, including 336 on the ground.

“That team can play with any team in the country,” Malzahn said about the Bearcats. “They’ve got a complete team. They can win the whole thing.”

UCF returns to the Bounce House next Friday night to face conference-foe Memphis.

This article first appeared on OrlandoSentinel.com. Email Jason Beede at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @therealBeede.