Florida Gators hire Dan Mullen as head coach

Dan Mullen will be the next head coach of the Florida Gators. That news comes to us from Brett McMurphy, who tweeted out on Sunday that Mullen reached an agreement to be the next head coach of the Gators.

News had been trickling out all afternoon that Mullen was likely to land the Florida job. It appears that the process has taken the next step forward. Mullen, of course, is familiar with Gainesville. He served as offensive coordinator/QB coach under former head coach Urban Meyer from 2005-08.He helped develop a guy named Tim Tebow. Maybe you’ve heard of him?

Mullen achieved yeoman’s work with the Mississippi St. Bulldogs. From 2009-2017, Mullen posted a 69-46 record and a 33-39 mark in conference. That included a year in 2014, in which the Bulldogs ranked as high as No. 1 in the country for the first time in program history. That year, they went to the Orange Bowl. He helped lead the Bulldogs to eight consecutive bowl game appearances (this year included) with the only year he didn’t get there being his first season in 2009.

All in all, this is probably the best that Florida could do here. Scott Frost was always likely to head to he Nebraska Cornhuskers. Chip Kelly was probably a pipe dream, even though it appeared he decided between them and the UCLA Bruins. Willie Taggart was a possibility, also, but getting Mullen is a very nice “consolation.” You are getting a head coach with a proven track record in the conference. He’s already had plenty of experience in recruiting/working in Gainesville. While expectations will be high at Florida, Mullen certainly knows how to get it done.