Potential Bruins Head Coaching Candidate: Offensive Mind UCLA Could Add

One of the Bruins’ past opposing coaches has emerged as a potential fit for UCLA’s head coaching vacancy.

Jul 29, 2022; Los Angeles, CA, USA; A detailed view of UCLA Bruins helmet during Pac-12 Media Day at Novo Theater. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

After firing Deshaun Foster on Sunday, questions surrounding the vacant head coaching spot have raised plenty of concerns for the Bruins moving forward.

They need to land a winner, if there is any hope of turning the program around, especially in a difficult Big 10 conference. The ideal is a head coach who has had experience in a competitive conference.

A potential head coach for the Bruins is the current head coach of the UNLV Rebels, Dan Mullen. He is currently in his first year of his 5-year contract for the Rebels; however, there have been questions around whether the Rebels can actually afford him.

Sep 12, 2025; Pasadena, California, USA; General view of the stadium before the game between the UCLA Bruins and the New Mexico Lobos at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images | Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

It was reported in the spring of 2025 that the Rebels have $26-31 million of debt in their athletic department. While the school has said that they will be able to pay for the first two years of the contract, they will need to rely on donors to cover the rest.

Financial uncertainty can derail this deal, potentially opening up a window for the Bruins to secure a big-name coach. If Mullen decides to leave the Bruins, he will need to pay a $7 million buyout fee for his contract. This clause decreases $1 million every year. So if he decides to leave next year, it will only cost him $6 million.

Only time will tell if the Bruins decide to pursue Mullen. They will probably wait and see how he finishes the season with the Rebels.

Nov 20, 2021; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Florida Gators head coach Dan Mullen watches team warm ups against the Missouri Tigers before the game at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images | Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Dan Mullen has been a head coach for 13 years. Nine of those years came with Mississippi State, where he was able to lead the Bulldogs to a 69-46 record over that time. In 2014, he was able to reach #1 in the AP rankings for the first time in school history. Overall, he was able to lead Mississippi State to four AP Top 25 rankings.

He left Mississippi in 2017 to join the Florida Gators. This shows that he is willing to jump ship for a better team at any point. Can the Bruins be that team?

With the Gators, he was able to go 34-14 during that time. He was also able to land two AP top 10 finishes (2018, 2019). He was also able to lead Florida in two bowl game wins.

Florida Gators head coach Dan Mullen fist pumps in celebration to the crowd of Gator fans after the football game between the Florida Gators and Tennessee Volunteers, at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, Fla. Sept. 25, 2021. Flgai 092521 Ufvs Tennesseefb 55 | Brad McClenny/The Gainesville Sun via Imagn Content Services, LLC

This season, Mullen has led UNLV to a 3-0 record to start. Beating out UCLA in their last game in convincing fashion, this could have an impact on Martin Jarmond's hiring process moving forward.

His career has shown that he doesn't necessarily go for big names in recruiting classes. He has been able to develop 3-star recruits with general ease. Something that UCLA isn't really known for. This recruiting philosophy has led to 76 players being drafted. Notable names include Dak Prescott and Anthony Richardson.

The future is uncertain for the Bruins. After the firing of Deshaun Foster just three games into the season, it will be a mystery for now how the Bruins regroup from that. Finding a head coach who can put the Bruins over the top is a good start.

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