The head coach at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Dan Mullen was born to Robert and Barbara Mullen on 27 April, 1972, in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania.
Tragically, the 52-year-old coach lost his father, Robert Mullen, in 2019.
His father had been a significant influence on him, inspiring Dan throughout his career in football coaching.
Highlights
- Dan Mullen mentioned that his parents were not athletes, but they did everything to expose him to different sports and let him do what he loved.
- The former Florida Gators head coach’s father, Robert Mullen, was his biggest supporter and fan.
- Robert Mullen passed away in May 2019.
Dan Mullen began his coaching career in 1994 as a wide receivers coach at Wagner College.
He then moved to Columbia University in a similar role. He worked as a graduate assistant at Syracuse and Notre Dame before joining Urban Meyer at Bowling Green to coach quarterbacks.
The Drexel Hill native gained prominence at the University of Florida as an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under Meyer.
Mullen then became the head coach at Mississippi State University from 2009 to 2017. There, he led the team to eight bowl games and a top ranking in the first College Football Playoff rankings in 2014.
From 2018 to 2021, he was the head coach at the University of Florida.
After being fired from Florida in 2021, Mullen was a college football analyst for ESPN and ABC for three years.
As reported by ESPN, Dan Mullen, the college football analyst, has been appointed as the new head coach for UNLV. The institution reportedly announced it on Thursday (12 December 2024).
While the specific terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, the publication reported that it spans five years. Mullen is set to be introduced at a news conference on Friday.
Dan Mullen’s Father, Robert Mullen, Passed Away In March 2019
Dan Mullen’s father, Robert Mullen, passed away on 23 March 2019, at the age of 75. After the funeral, Dan shared his feelings with The Gainesville Sun.
The collegiate football coach expressed how tough it had been, knowing his dad had been sick for a long time.
However, Dan was fortunate to have the chance to say goodbye and spend a few days with his father before his passing.
Losing a parent, whether we are 5 or 50 year-old, is certainly one of life’s most devastating moments.
Dan also mentioned how difficult it was, especially since it was his first experience losing a parent. His mother is still alive and well.
“It’s been tough. He’d been sick for quite some time, so you knew it was coming. I was very fortunate. I got to go up and say goodbye. He lasted a couple of days after that.”
Dan Mullen
Moreover, the current UNLV head coach spoke about the beautiful service and how grateful he was to attend the funeral and spend time with his family.
Returning to his hometown of Manchester, N.H. back then, for the funeral, Dan and his wife, Megan, both delivered the eulogy during the service.
The former Florida Gators coach described his father as a great dad and a truly good person. He recalled that his wife, Megan, never heard Robert say an unkind word.
Dan also recalled that his father was a huge supporter, even coaching his Little League team when he was six or seven years old.
His father always encouraged him and had a significant, positive influence on his life, pushing him to pursue his passions.
According to Mullen, his dad didn’t play high school football but was a big football fan and greatly supported Dan’s career.
The football coach clarified that his late dad enjoyed football more as a fan than as an influence on his coaching.
Furthermore, Dan admired his father’s approach to life, noting that he always made friends wherever he went and seemed to have few bad days.
Robert enjoyed life to the fullest, and Dan learned to appreciate every day, waking up happy and loving what he did, just as his father had.
Mullen reflected on his father’s positive outlook on life. He mentioned that he wasn’t sure if his father had many bad days because “he enjoyed life.”
According to the coach, his dad “had a great time” and believed it was “a great way to live life.”
Dan revealed that his father woke up happy every day and thought it would be “a shame” and “a tragedy” to go through life without enjoying what you do every day.
Mullen’s Mother, Barbara, Owns A Dance Academy
As of a 2018 report by Florida Gators, Dan’s mother, Barbara Mullen, worked as owner and director of the Londonderry Dance Academy in Mullen’s hometown of Manchester, N.H.
Barbara Mullen was born in North Wales, U.K. She learned to dance at a boarding school in Chester, England.
As a ballerina, she traveled across Europe and other parts of the world. She met Dan Mullen’s father, Robert, while he was stationed overseas in the Air Force.
They got married in Spain and briefly settled in Philadelphia, where Dan was born and where Robert grew up.
The Mullen family eventually moved to New Hampshire. Barbara said her interests and outgoing nature influenced Dan.
The coach has two siblings, and his parents also have another son, Patrick, and a daughter, Katie.
Additional Information
- According to Celebrity Net Worth, the collegiate football coach’s net worth is $13 million.
- Mullen met his wife, Megan, while coaching quarterbacks at Bowling Green State University. Megan was a sports reporter for a local news station in Toledo, Ohio.
- He emailed her, asking to take her to lunch. After several tries, Megan agreed. When they finally met for dinner, Dan impressed Megan, and she knew he was special. They started dating and got married in 2005.
- The couple has two children together. Dan also has an older son from a previous relationship.
