Offensive guru Mullen takes talents to MSU

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December 18, 2008

Sideline Pass

The holiday season can be soooooo busy.

There's the shopping, the wrapping, the family get-togethers.

And if you're Londonderry native Dan Mullen, there's the recruiting trips, the assembly of a coaching staff and, oh yeah, there's that little matter of helping the University of Florida football team win its second national title in three years.

Last week, Mullen, the Gators' offensive coordinator, was named head coach of Mississippi State. It's the first head coaching gig for the 36-year-old Mullen, after 14 years as an assistant. Through Florida's BSC title game against Oklahoma on Jan. 8, he will try to balance both sets of responsibilities.

"Yeah, it's going to be pretty busy the next few weeks," said Mullen, in a telephone interview from yet another hotel room, while on yet another recruiting trip to yet another Mississippi town. "The No. 1 priority is my commitment to Mississippi State. I need to make sure that our recruiting is in place.

"I'm also in the process of putting the (coaching) staff together," he said. "Then I'll go back and help (Florida) get ready for Oklahoma."

You can be sure that Mullen will be burning up his cell phone before the title game, making sure prospective MSU recruits are watching. If the Gators win, he'll be back on the phone in the locker room, letting the recruits listen in on the celebration.

Mullen's career has been a rapid ascent up the coaching ladder. He's spent the last eight years coaching under Urban Meyer at Bowling Green, Utah and now Florida. During that time, he has developed a reputation as an offensive genius. Florida led the brutally tough SEC this year with 45.2 points and 442.4 yards per game in total offense. It was his offense that dismembered Ohio State two years ago in the 2007 BSC title game.

He is credited with mentoring former NFL No. 1 draft pick Alex Smith at Utah, as well as 2007 Heisman winner Tim Tebow at Florida.

As a result, he will get to make his debut as a head coach in college football's premier conference.

"This is my first head coaching offer and to have it be in the SEC is unbelievable," he said.

Mullen grew up in Londonderry and still has strong ties in the community. His mother, Barbara Mullen, runs the Londonderry Dance Academy and his dad, Robert, lives in Hooksett.

After leading Trinity High to a state title in 1988, he attended Ursinus College. His first coaching jobs were as an assistant at Wagner and Columbia, not exactly the glamour spots of the game. He credits sacrifices made by his mother, and later by his wife (a former network analyst for the Golf Channel), with helping him on his career path.

But he also credits himself. Not in an arrogant way, but in a way that recognizes how his success validates his philosophy on life.

"Throughout your life, you're presented with opportunities," he said. "When you're presented with them, you have to make the sacrifices and go as hard as you can to achieve your goals. And I've found that when I do that, more opportunities open up.

"Hard work, commitment and sacrifice lead to opportunities."

At 36, Mullen's latest opportunity is a big one. He's comfortable with the relationship he has developed with second-year MSU Athletic Director Greg Byrne and feels confident that he will be given the time to develop a program that can compete consistently in the SEC.

The MSU fans and media have embraced him already. His arrival in Starkville was a media event in a state with no pro franchises. He will, no doubt, enjoy a honeymoon period.

But Mullen's been around the college game long enough to know that the patience of fans, media and boosters is not limitless. After all, it was just two years ago that his predecessor at MSU, Sylvester "Buddy" Croom, was voted SEC Coach of the Year. After a 4-8 season in 2008, he was nudged into a resignation.

Dan Mullen has earned his opportunity. Making the most of the opportunity — turning Mississippi State into an SEC contender — will be a true challenge.

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Bill Gilman is the editor of the Derry News. He can be reached at editor@derrynews.com or by calling 603-421-3880.