UNLV's Dan Mullen Receives Coach of the Year Honor

Mullen returns to Florida to accept Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year award.

Feb. 24, 2026 at 1:03am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

UNLV football coach Dan Mullen was presented with the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach of the Year award on Monday in Gainesville, Florida. Mullen guided the Rebels to a 10-4 record and a berth in the Mountain West championship game in his inaugural season, marking the most wins by a first-year coach in program history.

Why it matters

Mullen's successful first season at UNLV has generated excitement around the program, as the Rebels opened 6-0 for the first time since 1974 and posted their best home winning percentage since 2000. The award recognition highlights Mullen's coaching acumen and ability to quickly turn around a team that had struggled in recent years.

The details

Mullen was the head coach at Florida from 2018 to 2021 before being hired by UNLV. In his first year with the Rebels, he guided the team to a 10-4 record, a Mountain West championship game appearance, and a berth in the Frisco Bowl against Ohio. UNLV defeated every nonconference opponent for the first time since joining a league in 1982 and scored at least 20 points in every regular-season game, surpassing 30 points a school-record 11 times.

  • Mullen was presented with the award on Monday, February 24, 2026, in Gainesville, Florida.
  • Mullen's first season as UNLV's head coach was in 2025.

The players

Dan Mullen

The head football coach at UNLV, who previously served as the head coach at the University of Florida from 2018 to 2021.

Steve Spurrier

The namesake of the First-Year Coach of the Year award that Mullen received, Spurrier is a former college football player and coach who is considered one of the greatest coaches in the sport's history.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It's fun to be back. It's really cool because a lot of the former players and some old Gators players I knew throughout the years are here.”

— Dan Mullen, UNLV Head Football Coach

“This is pretty special. Any time you get an award in football, it's really a team award. This speaks to our coaching staff and the buy-in from our players and the university and the administration and the people of Las Vegas.”

— Dan Mullen, UNLV Head Football Coach

What’s next

The Rebels will begin spring practice on March 26, 2026 as they look to build on their successful 2025 campaign.

The takeaway

Dan Mullen's first-year turnaround of the UNLV football program has generated significant optimism around the team, as he was able to quickly transform the Rebels into a Mountain West contender and earn national recognition for his coaching efforts.