Dan Mullen, the former Florida Gators head coach and ESPN college football analyst, has been named the new head coach of the UNLV Rebels. This marks a significant shift in Mullen’s career, as he moves from being a prominent critic of the Georgia Bulldogs to taking on a fresh challenge in Las Vegas. Mullen, who most recently led the Florida Gators from 2018 to 2021, is now set to head the UNLV football program beginning in 2025.
Mullen’s move to UNLV comes after he agreed in principle to a five-year contract with the school. While the contract has yet to be fully finalized, ESPN reports that the financial details will likely be disclosed soon. In his previous stint at Florida, Mullen was at the helm during a period of ups and downs for the program. His tenure was marked by moments of success, such as coming close to making the College Football Playoff in 2020, but it was also defined by struggles with discipline and consistency. His time at Florida ended abruptly in 2021 following a disappointing loss to Missouri, which left the Gators with a 5-6 record. Despite a generally positive 34-15 record at Florida, the team never quite achieved the success that fans and the program expected, leading to Mullen’s dismissal.
Before his time at Florida, Mullen had a nine-year tenure at Mississippi State, where he compiled a 69-46 record. His success at Mississippi State earned him respect in the college football world, and his move to Florida was seen as a step up. At Florida, Mullen showed flashes of brilliance, particularly with the development of quarterback Kyle Trask, who helped lead the Gators to an SEC Championship appearance. However, Mullen’s inability to fully harness the talent on his roster and his struggles with player discipline ultimately led to his firing.
Now, with a new opportunity at UNLV, Mullen faces a different set of challenges. He is stepping into a program that has struggled to achieve consistent success in recent years. UNLV’s football team will face an uphill battle in 2025, as the program is expected to lose a significant amount of talent due to graduation. Key players such as the starting quarterback, linebacker Jackson Woodward (who was named the Mountain West defensive player of the year), and wide receiver Ricky White III (who earned the Mountain West special teams player of the year award after blocking four punts) are all set to depart. This exodus of talent will leave Mullen with the task of rebuilding the team and establishing a competitive culture at UNLV.
Mullen’s experience coaching at Florida, along with his prior success at Mississippi State, will be crucial as he looks to make an impact at UNLV. His background in developing quarterbacks and his offensive expertise will be particularly important for a team that will need to find a new identity in 2025. While UNLV may not be in the same competitive position as Florida was during Mullen’s time there, it offers him a fresh start in a new environment.
The move to UNLV also marks a significant personal and professional shift for Mullen. After years in the SEC spotlight, first at Mississippi State and then at Florida, he will now work in the Mountain West Conference, which is a step down in terms of prestige but offers a new opportunity for success. The Rebels’ football program, while not currently a powerhouse, has shown flashes of promise, and Mullen’s leadership could be what it needs to become more competitive on a consistent basis.
Replacing Barry Odom, who left UNLV to take the head coaching job at Purdue on December 8, Mullen has big shoes to fill. Odom had worked hard to elevate the program during his time at UNLV, and now Mullen must continue that work, building on any positive momentum left by Odom’s departure. Given the talent that will be departing in the coming year, Mullen will likely have to rely heavily on recruiting to fill the gaps and bring in new players who can help the Rebels compete in the Mountain West.
In terms of strategy, Mullen will need to focus on building a strong, disciplined team that can perform at a high level week in and week out. One of his biggest challenges will be ensuring that his players are prepared for the mental and physical demands of college football, something that became a concern during his time at Florida. The Gators often underperformed in games where they were expected to win, and Mullen will need to work hard to address this issue if he is to succeed at UNLV.
Moreover, Mullen will have to manage expectations, as the Rebels are not expected to immediately challenge for a Mountain West title. However, given Mullen’s experience and coaching acumen, he has the potential to turn the program around and eventually make UNLV a contender in the conference. It will take time, but if Mullen can instill discipline, develop his players effectively, and recruit well, UNLV could become a more competitive team in the years to come.
For now, Mullen’s focus will be on building a foundation for the future. With the loss of key players in 2025, he will need to work closely with the remaining talent on the roster while also looking to the recruiting trail to add new players who can help the program grow. If successful, Mullen could carve out a successful second chapter of his coaching career at UNLV.
