A couple of days ago, a report surfaced that Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen, along with UCLA’s Jim Mora, had been added to Michigan’s coaching wish list. Not so unexpectedly, the denials are flowing.
According to a report in the Jackson Clarion-Ledger, “Mullen confirmed... via text message Tuesday morning that he hasn’t had any discussions regarding coaching positions at other schools.” Left unsaid, it should be noted, is whether any representatives of Mullen has engaged in any talks with other schools, including Michigan.
The 42-year-old Mullen, who was born in Pennsylvania and went to high school in New Hampshire before attending college in his home state, has been connected to openings at Nebraska and, particularly, Florida over the past couple of weeks. Mullen’s boss is, of course, downplaying his head football coach’s name being mentioned as possibilities at other programs.
“Those are the same people that told me he was on the hot seat last year,” MSU athletic director Scott Stricklin told the Clarion-Ledger. “I don’t put a lot of stock in that.”
The only certainty in all of the speculation is that, regardless of where he ends up for the 2015 season, Mullen will be a richer man for it.
In 2014, Mullen earned $3 million, a sum that was 27th nationally and 10th among the 14 head coaches in the SEC. The man who was just ahead of him in ninth, Ole Miss’ Hugh Freeze, recently received a new contract that will pay him $4.3 million in 2015.
Brady Hoke, fired by Michigan shortly after the end of the regular season, made $2.856 million.
