Dan Mullen is in a much different position than he was a year ago, as the Mississippi State head coach was on the hot seat following a 20-7 loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide in November 2013 that dropped his team to 4-6 on the year. Now he leads the No. 1 team in the nation against Alabama, and is considered one of the top potential candidates for head coaching openings at Michigan or Florida.
Dan Mullen says Mississippi State is ‘primo destination place’
Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen says “the grass isn’t always greener” at other coaching positions.
Mark Zerof-USA TODAY Sports
In an interview with FOX Sports Live, Mullen was asked about the possibility of other teams calling, and while he didn’t entirely rule out the possibility of a departure, he also said that he is in “the primo destination place” and that his job is an enviable as any.
”If they do [make job offers], then who knows? I think that’s one of the most challenging things in this profession, as a coach, you’re either on the hot seat, or you’re on the way out the door. This time last year, I was on the hot seat after the Alabama game. This time, this year now, I have all the answers. So you go from smart to dumb to smart in a hurry, I guess.
The grass isn’t always greener. We’re the No. 1 team in the country so I think maybe more people are wondering, they want this job more than I want other jobs. I’m at the primo destination place. We’re No. 1.”
Mullen, 42, took over the job at Mississippi State in 2009 and has compiled a 45-28 overall record in six seasons with the team, including a 3-1 record in bowl games. The Bulldogs are currently in the driver’s seat for the No. 1 seed in the first-ever College Football Playoff, but road trips to play Alabama and Ole Miss in two of the last three weeks of the season, as well as a potential trip to the SEC Championship Game, offer some tough tests to finish the year.
Among the high-profile college football head coaching jobs that are expected to become available are replacements for Brady Hoke and Will Muschamp at Michigan and Florida, respectively. Both traditional powers are unranked and still not quite bowl eligible with just a few weeks left in the regular season.
Mullen previously served as the offensive coordinator for four seasons under current Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer, including BCS National Championship victories in 2006 and 2008. Mullen is from Drexel Hill, Pa. and runs a power offense too, so there’s reason to believe he could find success with Michigan in the Big Ten like Meyer has at Ohio State.
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