With a win in the Gasparilla Bowl, Florida football will finish the year with an 8-5 record, their best since 2020, which just happened to be their final full season under head coach Dan Mullen. In their third year under current frontman Billy Napier, the Florida Gators are starting to right the ship, earning ranked wins over LSU and Ole Miss while ending the season as winners of three in a row. As for his predecessor, Mullen, the bench boss is back on the sidelines after Florida fired him late in the 2021 season.
On Thursday, Mullen accepted the head coaching position with the UNLV Rebels, three years after his final game with the Florida football program. Between his two coaching stops, Mullen broadcast for ESPN. Nevertheless, Florida football fans congratulated Mullen on his newest position at the FBS level.
Florida Football Fans Tip Cap to Dan Mullen
According to Brett McMurphy of The Athletic:
UNLV hires former Florida & Miss State coach Dan Mullen, sources said. Mullen was recommended to UNLV by Las Vegas Bowl executive director John Saccenti because of a strong relationship b/w Mullen & Saccenti, sources said. Mullen was 103-61 in 13 years at Miss State & Florida.
On Thursday, the UNLV Rebels came to terms with former Florida football bench boss Dan Mullen as the program’s next head coach. UNLV went 10-3 this season, with frontman Barry Odom parlaying the successful year into filling the Purdue Boilermakers head coaching vacancy. As for Mullen, the 52-year-old last coached with the Florida Gators from 2018 to 2021. Mullen’s team posted a 10-3 record in his first season with Florida, beating Michigan in the Peach Bowl. The following year, the Gators went 11-2, won the Orange Bowl, and finished sixth in the AP Poll.
In his final full season, Florida football was 8-1 before finishing the year on a three-game losing streak, lowlighted by a heartbreaking 52-46 loss against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the SEC title game. The 2021 rendition of Florida went 6-7, with the program firing Mullen following a 5-6 start. Before Florida, Mullen went 69-46 in nine seasons with Mississippi State. Following UNLV’s hiring of Mullen, Florida fans took to social media in a chipper mood, wishing him luck at his latest stop:
You know what, I wish Dan Mullen well. Truly. He did a lot of great things for us as our offensive coordinator, and he put us back on the map from 2018-20.
Go kill it at UNLV, @CoachDanMullen https://t.co/iLvFwEfHQp
— InAllKindsOfWeather.com (@AllKindsWeather) December 12, 2024
It’s all who you know in this business. Even though I think Dan is a phenomenal coach. Anyone who can win the way he did at Miss St can coach their ass off. But with that said, the profession just stinks. It’s all who you know
— Coach Moore MS, CSCS (@Coach_Moore_FP) December 12, 2024
This is an awesome hire
— Dylan Wilkerson (@wilkersonadylan) December 12, 2024
Mullen is an offensive wiz. Ge should thrive there honestly. Probably a great hire.
— John Douglas (@JDickolas) December 12, 2024
This a good hire for them. Florida should’ve never let him go tbh
— Vinny Chase (@Shadboogie55) December 12, 2024
I really wish it worked out for him at Florida. Go be great Dan! Wishing you the best.
— Dustin (@ItsCulby) December 12, 2024
Dan Mullen is an outstanding coach
— jjhurt (@823hurt835) December 12, 2024
— Darthender (@That_Guy_Bri_) December 12, 2024
It was such a mistake for Florida to fire Dan Mullen that 3 years after getting fired he lands at UNLV. https://t.co/su5LSqDOoo
— Dustin (@dustinjkent) December 12, 2024
In 13 seasons at Mississippi State and Florida…
Dan Mullen has an overall record of 103-61 (.628).
Mullen's win pct of .628 is 7th-BEST among active FBS head coaches with 10+ years of experience.
This is a GREAT hire for UNLV. https://t.co/U4CpMsRBK3 pic.twitter.com/8Rn2x54JbL
— Ben Stevens (@BenScottStevens) December 12, 2024
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