Florida Football: Gators make splash hire with Dan Mullen
Florida football will get back to SEC contention with the reeling of Dan Mullen from Mississippi State on Sunday.
Jim McElwain was supposed to change things in Gainesville. Florida football was looking for a change of direction after Will Muschamp and the former Colorado State coach seemed to be the answer. He led the Gators to two division titles, but things took a turn for the worst in 2017.
For one, the Gators had plenty of problems off the field and two, they couldn’t seem to gain any traction on the field. Despite two division titles, the Gators were headed in the wrong direction as a mediocre SEC team in 2017.
McElwain was fired in the midst of a disappointing 2017 campaign and it was time to move forward and hire someone with experience rather than an up-and-comer. The Gators hired former offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach on Sunday evening.
Sources: Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen has reached agreement to become Florida’s coach
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) November 26, 2017
The Mississippi State head coach doesn’t have the most impressive record with the Bulldogs since taking over in 2009, but he’s made a bowl game in eight consecutive seasons. He found a way to win at a program that hadn’t exactly been known as a perennial power. He finished with a record of 69-46 with the Bulldogs.
Florida made a huge move here and Mullen, 45, knows what it takes to win in the SEC and he’s going to have more resources to succeed in Gainesville.
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Mississippi State fans are sure to be disappointed with the development, but this could be quite the rivalry in the SEC for years to come. Expect Florida to be back on top soon.