Dan Mullen, awed by UNLV facilities, says timing felt right to make return to coaching
LAS VEGAS — Dan Mullen could’ve returned to coaching sooner, but the timing never seemed right and, regardless, he was fine remaining at ESPN giving his insights about the latest in college football.But when coach Barry Odom, fresh off taking UNLV to back-to-back appearances in the Mountain West championship game, left for Purdue in December, this time felt different.Now, the former Mississippi State and Florida coach is back on the sidelines overseeing the Rebels, who began spring practices Thursday.“He was doing TV for three years and you want to know if that fire’s still in his belly,” UNLV athletic director Erick Harper said. “The first conversation, you could tell. The more we talked, the more you could feel the fire in his belly to get back out on the field and do what he loves to do.”Mullen first became impressed with UNLV while in Las Vegas in 2023 to attend former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow’s College Football Hall of Fame induction. He couldn’t believe the $35 million Ferti...