Getty

UNLV's Dan Mullen Announces Decision On Coaching Future

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Oct 15, 2025 5:54 PM ET

After a three-year self-imposed exile from college football following his firing from Florida, Dan Mullen returned to the sport late last year as the new head coach at UNLV. And with his Rebels sitting atop the Mountain West standings at a perfect 6-0, people are starting to wonder if he's ready to take a new job in a power conference.

At his most recent press conference this week, Mullen was asked to weigh in on the rumored interest in him as a candidate for one of the bigger coaching jobs such as Penn State. But Mullen quickly dismissed it, declaring point-blank that he will be returning to UNLV next season and has told his players as much.

“I’ll be here… You want me to do that? I’m gonna be the head coach at UNLV next year,” Mullen said. “I’ll be here. I’m not going anywhere… I said it to the players. I told them that.”

Coach Mullen addresses rumors about his departure, stating, "I'm gonna be the head coach at UNLV next year. I'll be here. I'm not going anywhere. You guys are stuck with me." #UNLVFB pic.twitter.com/QU0aMOqV4S
— The Scarlet Standard (@SS_MediaLV) October 14, 2025

Mulling Mullen

Dan Mullen had a solid if unremarkable run as head coach at Mississippi State from 2009 to 2017, going 69-46 at a program that is notoriously difficult to find success at. But he persevered, leading the Bulldogs to eight straight bowl games and three top-25 finishes with only two losing seasons.

Mullen parlayed his success in Starkville into an even bigger job in Gainesville, joining the Florida Gators in 2018. In his first two seasons it looked like he was on the verge of returning the program to glory, going 21-5 with Peach Bowl and Orange Bowl wins amid back-to-back top-10 finishes.

But after the weirdness of the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and an underwhelming 2021 campaign, he was fired in the middle of a 5-6 season. His final record at Florida was a respectable 34-15 and there was significant interest from multiple programs.

However, Mullen spent the better part of the next few years doing broadcast work instead.

GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 13: head coach Dan Mullen of the Florida Gators looks on before the start of a game against the Samford Bulldogs at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on November 13, 2021 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)James Gilbert/Getty Images

Even if Mullen were interested in a top job, there might still be a ton of pushback from fans. His final couple of years at Florida are not remembered fondly due to a combination of recruiting struggles and his stubborn refusal to change his coaching staff when practically begged to.

How many more years will Mullen stay at UNLV when bigger and bigger programs express interest in him?

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: