Coaching Candidate is a mini-series exploring potential head coaches at the FCS and FBS levels. Read more about the contracts and backgrounds of Brent Vigen, Tim Polasek, and Jason Eck.
Dan Mullen’s name is creeping back into power conference carousel conversations for the first time in years, and for good reason. UNLV made a big swing for Mullen’s services in December of 2024, and it has been paying off.
Prior to his residency in Vegas, he spent two years in the studio with a season on the sidelines at Lake Oconee Academy as a “contributing resource.” The former Florida and Mississippi State head coach then returned to the field in the desert, instantly becoming one of the most recognizable names in the non-power conference leagues.
Dan Mullen Contract & Buyout
- Contract Term: Dec 13, 2024 – Dec 31, 2029
- Total Guaranteed Compensation: $3.5 million annually
- Base Salary: $400,000
- Media & Public Appearance Fee: $3.1 million
- Requires 15 radio, 15 TV/internet + 15 public and donor appearances each fiscal year
- Retention Bonuses: $100K (2027) | $200K (2028) | $200K (2029)
- Buyout Clauses (Key Date: December 2 every year when the number drops)
- Non-Power 4 School: $5M → $4M → $3M → $2M → $1M (2025–2029)
- Power 4/NFL School: $7M → $6M → $5M → $4M → $3M (2025–2029)
Interestingly, UNLV’s official contract with Mullen acknowledges the rebuilt Pac-12 conference alongside other Power Four leagues, as indicated by this language. It’s sparked some discussion about whether the Rebels made the right choice … or if they’re now in a better position than the reformed Pac-12. Language below:
“Power 4 shall mean any institution that participates, as of the effective date, in the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten Conference, Big Twelve Conference, or Southeastern Conference, plus Notre Dame and thereafter the New Pac 12.”
Dan Mullen Bio
Mullen’s coaching career has been defined by his ability to take programs from overlooked (and underfunded) to overachieving. Mullen is a New Hampshire native, played football at Ursinus College in Pennsylvania, and got his first coaching job at Wagner as the receivers coach. He later served as a graduate assistant at Syracuse and Notre Dame before joining Urban Meyer’s staff as quarterbacks coach at Bowling Green, then following him to Utah and eventually to Florida.
At Mississippi State (2009–2017), he inherited a program that hadn’t won more than eight games since 1999 and turned it into one of the SEC’s toughest outs. His first recruiting class cracked the national top 20, and by 2010, he had the Bulldogs at 9-4 with wins over Georgia, Florida, and Michigan in the Gator Bowl. What followed was a sustained period of success that Mississippi State had never seen — eight straight bowl appearances, four consecutive wins over rival Ole Miss, and a landmark 2014 season that saw the Bulldogs rise to No. 1 in the nation for the first time in school history. That year, behind Dak Prescott’s breakout performance, Mullen’s team beat three top-10 opponents in succession and finished 10–2, setting program records for national ranking, attendance, and exposure. By the time he left for Florida, Mullen had become the second-winningest coach in Mississippi State history, behind only Jackie Sherrill.
At Florida (2018-2021), Mullen immediately restored the Gators’ national profile. Inheriting a team that had gone 4-7 the previous season, he guided Florida to 10-3 and a Peach Bowl win over Michigan in his first year. His second team went 11-2, capped by an Orange Bowl victory over Virginia, and his third year produced an explosive offense that averaged over 39 points per game, while quarterback Kyle Trask threw for 4,125 yards and 43 touchdowns and finished as a Heisman finalist. Florida reached the SEC Championship Game that season, falling to Alabama in a high-scoring shootout.
But by 2021, the tone in Gainesville shifted. Frustration with recruiting, inconsistent defense, and a strained relationship with the media led to a turbulent final stretch. Following a 34-7 loss to Georgia, Mullen canceled all player and coordinator media availability, later giving short, tense pressers that fueled speculation about burnout. Recruiting questions became a central topic as other SEC schools’ waves of five-star signings loomed over Florida’s efforts. After an overtime loss to Missouri dropped the Gators below .500, Mullen was dismissed with a 35-15 record.
The two years that followed would reshape that perception entirely. Mullen joined ESPN/ABC as a college football analyst, where he became a fan favorite for his insight and refreshing candor. He was a big media voice on NIL, coaching culture, and player empowerment — a noticeable pivot from the guarded tone that marked his final year at Florida. The “media bump” not only softened his public image but also displayed a more relatable, humorous side that resonated with coaches, fans, and athletic directors.
Now at UNLV, Mullen has regained both momentum and credibility. He’s already been linked to several openings, including speculation around Arkansas and Florida, the latter surfacing again after Billy Napier’s firing earlier this month. Mullen made headlines last week when he openly criticized Florida’s lack of institutional support during his tenure, saying he was “always told no” when requesting more resources, which, of course, is a remark that has reignited debate over his Gainesville exit. This past month, he lobbied for Arkansas to hire Gus Malzahn, to downplay any interest or speculation he could be linked to the job.
Across 13 seasons as a head coach, Mullen boasts a 109-62 career record, 10 bowl appearances, and a proven ability to develop elite college quarterbacks, including Alex Smith, Tim Tebow, Dak Prescott, and Kyle Trask. His blend of on-field success, media savvy, and rebuilt public image now positions him as one of the most intriguing names in the coaching carousel cycle.
