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Lee Corso says Dan Mullen was ‘terrific hire,’ expects Florida to compete for SEC title in a year or two
By Jake Rill
Published:
Dan Mullen has returned to Gainesville, where he spent four seasons as the Florida offensive coordinator from 2005-08. After Mullen’s nine seasons leading Mississippi State, consider longtime ESPN analyst Lee Corso among those who think it was a good move by the Gators to bring back their former assistant to lead the program.
“Dan Mullen was a terrific hire, and I expect in a year or two that he and Georgia will battle it out for the championship in that [SEC East] division,” Corso told ESPN WRUF 98.1 on Wednesday.
Mullen had success at Mississippi State, going 69-46 from 2009-17. He led the Bulldogs to eight consecutive bowl games, winning eight or more games in a season five times.
Now, Mullen, who won SEC Coach of the Year in 2014, returns to Florida looking to make the same type of impact. The Gators are coming off a 4-7 season, which was only their second year with fewer than seven wins since 1987.
Jim McElwain was fired midseason last year to end a disappointing tenure. Mullen, who is known for his offensive prowess, will try to do what McElwain couldn’t in implementing a successful offensive scheme.
Mullen makes his debut as Florida coach when the Gators open the season against Charleston Southern on Sept. 1.
Jake Rill contributes to news coverage for Saturday Down South. He has covered the SEC since 2016.
