Dan Mullen

Dan Mullen (born April 27, 1972) is an American football coach currently serving as head coach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs.

High school
He attended Trinity High School of Manchester, New Hampshire, where he led the Pioneers to the state championship in 1988.

College career
Mullen attended Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, where he lettered for two years playing tight end and was a first-team All-Centennial Conference selection his senior year. He graduated in 1994 with a Bachelor's Degree in Exercise and Sport Science. He went on to Wagner College, where he coached wide receivers as he earned a Master's Degree in Education, obtained in 1996.

Coaching career
Prior to his hiring at Mississippi State, Mullen served as offensive coordinator at the University of Florida and was also alongside Urban Meyer at Utah, where he was quarterback coach of the Utes during their undefeated 2004 season. He developed quarterback Alex Smith into the number 1 overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft. After Urban Meyer left to take the head coaching position at Florida, Mullen served as the interim offensive coordinator during Utah's Fiesta Bowl victory over Pitt. During his tenure at Utah, he also recruited and partially developed Brian Johnson, QB who led Utah to 13–0 and Sugar Bowl victory in 2009. He also served as quarterback coach under Meyer at Bowling Green in 2001–02.

As a coach, Mullen has tutored several notable players, including quarterbacks Alex Smith (Utah), Josh Harris (Bowling Green), Chris Leak (Florida) and Heisman Trophy-winner Tim Tebow (Florida).

Mullen, along with University of Oregon Head Coach Chip Kelly, former Boston College Receiver's Coach and now Temple Owls Offensive Coordinator Ryan Day; and former offensive coordinator for the University of Oregon and Chicago Bears and O.C. for the Winnepeg Blue Bombers Gary Crowton, are part of the so-called "New Hampshire mafia" as they all have strong connections to New Hampshire.

Mississippi State
Mullen's first recruiting class at Mississippi State was ranked #19 in the nation by Scout.com. and his 2012 recruiting class was ranked #18 in the nation. In his first season as head coach at Mississippi State in 2009, his team went 5–7 against the toughest schedule in the nation. In 2010, his Bulldog team went 9–4 overall and 4–4 in the SEC including victories over Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, and Mississippi, and the 4 losses came only to teams ranked in the Top 12. Mississippi State capped off the 2010 season by defeating traditional power Michigan in the 2011 Gator Bowl 52–14, and achieved a #15 ranking in the final AP poll. Mullen is 3–1 versus in-state and conference rival Ole Miss.