UNLV Head Coach Dan Mullen Declares He Will Remain with Rebels Amid Power Conference Buzz

Las Vegas – UNLV head football coach Dan Mullen emphatically stated today he intends to remain with the Rebels in 2026, despite growing speculation linking him to several high-profile coaching vacancies across the country.

The declaration came during a press conference this week, where Mullen addressed his team and then the media directly. “I’ll be here… You want me to do that? I’m gonna be the head coach at UNLV next year,” Mullen said. “I’ll be here. I’m not going anywhere… I said it to the players. I told them that.” Mullen’s commitment provides stability for a UNLV program enjoying its best start in years.

Mullen’s name has surfaced in connection with openings at Arkansas and UCLA, and former Ohio State and Florida coach Urban Meyer publicly suggested Mullen would be a strong candidate for the recently vacated Penn State position. Meyer noted Mullen’s success and regional ties, stating on a podcast, “How about Dan Mullen… Damn right he is (undefeated)… Scored 51 last week… And you know, he’s from the northeast, by the way.” Currently, Mullen boasts a career record of 109-61 across his tenures at Mississippi State, Florida, and UNLV. He previously spent three years as an analyst for ESPN after his departure from the Gators.

Acknowledging the impact of the transfer portal, Mullen sought to reassure his players. “It’s the transfer portal world,” he explained. “I said, ‘Don’t get all excited and think I might go somewhere you think is, like, a better place. I’m gonna be here.’ You guys are stuck with me.” UNLV is currently 6-0 and will face Boise State in Week 8.

Coaching searches are expected to intensify in the coming weeks, but Mullen has made his position clear, stating he remains focused on building the UNLV program.