UNLV Head Coach Channels 2014 Mississippi State Vibes: 'I Kind of Like Our Team'

With expectations building in Las Vegas, UNLV head coach Dan Mullen drew parallels between this year’s Rebels squad and his 2014 Mississippi State team  a team that rose to No. 1 in the nation for four straight weeks.

“Go back to the 2014 team. I had a feeling we had a pretty good team. We ended up being No. 1 in the country,” he said. “I kind of like our UNLV team.”

While still adjusting to the Mountain West landscape, the coach’s focus is clear, not just to compete for conference titles, but to build a sustainable winner capable of making waves on the national stage.

“I want to build a program that not just has the opportunity to compete in the Mountain West,” he said, “but also, if you get on the big stage in the College Football Playoff, to go compete and win those games as well.”

He also reflected on the nature of coaching itself. “Coaching is six inches between a pat on the back and a kick in the rear end,” he said with a grin. “You can go from really smart to really dumb in no time.”

With his past success and current confidence, it’s clear he believes UNLV’s rise isn’t just possible as it’s already underway.