Urban Meyer makes a visit to coach Mullen at UNLV

This past week the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels were back at spring practice with new head coach Dan Mullen.

Three-time National Championship coach Urban Meyer popped up at spring practice to support his friend, Dan Mullen.

The two coaches have been close friends for a long time, they have stayed connected through their various coaching journeys.

Dan Mullen has served under Meyer’s coaching staffs. Mullen first served under Meyer at Notre Dame as the Fighting Irish wide receivers coach. He then followed Meyer to Bowling Green, Utah, and Florida, where Mullen became the offensive coordinator before becoming a head coach.

The dynamic duo won two national championships together while at Florida.

Meyer stepped away from the field to talk about his friend with the media.

“I always thought UNLV was a diamond in the rough. I couldn’t understand why people couldn’t get it going there. And then Barry Odom comes in and gets that thing cranked up before leaving (for Purdue). Right around that time, it was brought to Dan’s attention, and I remember looking in his eyes. And I thought, ‘Man, this would be a great opportunity for him,’” Meyer said.

Mullen isn’t the only connection that Meyer has to UNLV, his son-in-law, Corey Dennis was hired on by Mullen as the team’s offensive coordinator.

As Mullen looks to build UNLV up to a powerhouse in the Mountain West Conference, Mullen can use all the added resources he can get.