After multiple reports throughout the day that Mississippi State University football head coach Dan Mullen will become the head coach at the University of Florida, both universities confirmed the move.
“Megan and I are very excited to get back to Gainesville and the University of Florida,” Mullen said in a release by Florida. “I have such great memories of the championships we won during our time here and have a love for Florida. We are happy to be coming back to such a supportive administration, staff, student body and fan base, which is the premier football program in the country.”
According to a statement released by Athletic Director John Cohen, special teams coordinator and running backs coach Greg Knox will serve as interim head coach.
“I informed the team this afternoon that running backs coach and special teams coordinator Greg Knox will serve as the interim head coach for our bowl game,” Cohen said in his statement. “Greg has coached in the Southeastern Conference for over 20 years. We are excited about playing in our school-record eighth consecutive bowl game against a quality opponent. Our senior class has a chance to tie the 2015 and 1942 teams as the winningest senior class in Mississippi State history.”
MSU released an official statement announcing it has begun the process of filling the “coaching vacancy.”
“In anticipation of this development, MSU has already begun the process of an orderly and expeditious transition to new and exciting leadership for our football program,” MSU President Mark Keenum said in the statement. “I have shared my vision with Athletics Director John Cohen and I am confident that John will move quickly and decisively to fill our coaching vacancy with the best possible person to build on the success of our program.”
According to the University of Florida, Athletic Director Scott Stricklin announced the hire of Mullen.
“I strongly believe Dan is the most prepared candidate to have immediate and long-term success at the University of Florida,” Stricklin said.
Mullen was hired as MSU’s head coach in 2008 by former MSU athletic director Greg Byrne. Beforehand, Mullen served as Florida’s offensive coordinator for four years, coaching college football stars like Tim Tebow and Percy Harvin.
Stricklin is the man hiring Mullen. Stricklin served as MSU’s athletic director from 2010 until last fall when he was hired by Florida.
Mullen leaves MSU as the second winningest coach in the school’s history, behind Jackie Sherrill. Over his nine seasons at MSU, he has a record of 69-45, a win percentage of 60.5 percent. He produced current NFL standouts like Dak Prescott, Fletcher Cox, K.J. Wright, Darius Slay and Gabe Jackson among other NFL players.
He took MSU to seven straight bowl games and would have made it eight straight this season. He took the program to heights it had never reached before, such as being ranked No.1 in the country for five weeks in the 2014 season.
When former MSU defensive coordinator Geoff Collins left MSU for Florida in 2014, Mullen called moving from MSU to Florida was “a lateral move.” That comment plus the fact Mullen has maintained over the last few weeks he was happy here makes the move a shock to many. Mullen went as far as to say he planned to be the head coach at MSU next season after the Egg Bowl on Thanksgiving.
“I plan on it,” Mullen said when asked about the rumors after the game. “As I have said, I am very very happy here. I am happy with what we have built, we have a great president and a great administration. You look at the fanbase that we have here and the program that we have built. I think it is pretty special.”
Florida will travel to Davis Wade next season and take on MSU’s football team on Sept. 29, 2018. This now looks to be a much more interesting game than it did a week ago.
According to Cohen, MSU has begun the search for Mullen’s replacement.
“We have already begun a national search to identify our 33rd head football coach,” Cohen said. “Since 2014, Mississippi State Football has risen to national prominence. Our Bulldog Family is as passionate and loyal a fan base as there is in the nation. They have transformed Davis Wade Stadium into an intimidating venue among the loudest in college football.”
Cohen has hired current baseball coach Andy Cannizaro, who took over for Cohen, and MSU soccer coach Tom Anagnost. Both have been successful hires as Cannizaro took MSU baseball to the super regionals last season and Anagnost took a 6-12, and 1-10 in the SEC, MSU soccer team and led them to a 9-5-3 record this year which includes s 2-5-3 record in conference play.
Mullen and John Cohen addressed the team at 5 p.m.
