Florida Gators Hire Dan Mullen As New Coach

GAINESVILLE, FL — Florida has hired Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen as its next football coach, bringing him back to Gainesville where he helped develop quarterback Tim Tebow.

The Gators announced the deal Sunday after Mullen addressed his Mississippi State players in Starkville, Miss.

Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin and Mullen worked together in Starkville, Miss., from 2009 to 2016. Stricklin was Mississippi State’s athletic director for seven of those years.

Mullen previously worked as Florida’s offensive coordinator from 2005-08 and won two national championships.

Mullen worked for former Florida head coach Urban Meyer at Bowling Green and Utah before becoming Florida's offensive coordinator. Mullen became head coach at Mississippi State in 2009.

"Megan and I are very excited to get back to Gainesville and the University of Florida," Mullen said in a statement released by the university. "I have such great memories of the championships we won during our time here and have a love for Florida. We are happy to be coming back to such a supportive administration, staff, student body and fan base, which is the premier football program in the country. We will give relentless effort in everything that we do on and off the field. Our commitment will match the passion that the Gator Nation has for this program."

The Gators fired former coach Jim McElwain last month and Randy Shannon served as the interim coach going 1-3.

"I strongly believe Dan is the most prepared candidate to have immediate and long-term success at the University of Florida," Stricklin said. "Coach Mullen is one of the best offensive minds in all of college football, and has an unbelievable track record in tutoring successful quarterbacks (such as Alex Smith, Chris Leak, Tim Tebow, Dak Prescott and Nick Fitzgerald).

Mullen is part of the so-called "New Hampshire Mafia", a coaching tree based on ties to New Hampshire. He shares ties with new UCLA Coach Chip Kelly and former Winnipeg Bombers offensive coordinator Gary Crowton.

Kelly was reportedly Florida's first choice for the job, but he decided to take the head coaching job at UCLA.

Mullen played football at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Penn.

Florida’s decision to target Mullen was first reported by Yahoo Sports .

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis