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Arkansas football: Top 5 head coaching candidates to replace Sam Pittman

By Connor Muldowney

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 7: Head coach Jeff Traylor of the UTSA Roadrunners reacts against the Temple Owls in the first half at Lincoln Financial Field on October 7, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 7: Head coach Jeff Traylor of the UTSA Roadrunners reacts against the Temple Owls in the first half at Lincoln Financial Field on October 7, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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Nov 20, 2021; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Florida Gators head coach Dan Mullen watches team warm ups against the Missouri Tigers before the game at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 20, 2021; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Florida Gators head coach Dan Mullen watches team warm ups against the Missouri Tigers before the game at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Dan Mullen, ESPN analyst and former SEC head coach

I know what you’re thinking: Dan Mullen didn’t pan out at Florida so why the heck would he even be considered at Arkansas? Honestly, I think he’s better fit at a program that embraces the underdog role which is why he had so much success at Mississippi State before leaving the Bulldogs for the Florida Gators.

At Mississippi State, he was 69-46 and put the Bulldogs on the map with a 10-win season and eight straight bowl seasons after a 5-7 inaugural year in 2009.

Mullen was a winner at a program that’s not exactly known for being a perennial power and that’s why he was such an attractive hire for Florida. He wasn’t exactly a failure the entire time at Florida either. He was 10-3 in his first year, 11-2 in year two, and then went 8-4 with an SEC title game berth in year three before getting fired after a 5-6 start to year four.

Although he fizzled out, he did only have one truly bad season. He was a thrown shoe away from making the playoff or at least entering that conversation in 2020.

Mullen would be an interesting fit here because he knows the SEC, knows the recruiting landscape, and can win right away.

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