SEC Network analyst says Dan Mullen is already a top-5 head coach
Discussing the best coaches in college football, SEC Network Studio Anchor Peter Burns made the case for Florida’s Dan Mullen being among the top-five.
Here’s what Burns had to say about Mullen on Twitter:
I already think Dan Mullen is one of the Top 5 coaches in CFB….if he finds a way to slow down the LSU’s offense in and outscore them with a limited Trask vs a healthy Tiger defense on a Saturday Night in Death Valley, you might as well start building the statue in Gainesville.
— Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) October 11, 2019
Burns would also go on to list his full top-five:
Top 5* Current CFB Coaches?
1) Saban
2) Dabo
3) Lincoln Riley
4) Chris Peterson
5) Dan Mullen/Ed Orgeron https://t.co/YoV9cHpOuz— Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) October 11, 2019
Featuring the same top-three – Alabama’s Nick Saban, Clemson’s Dabo Swinney and Oklahoma’s Lincoln Riley – as nearly everyone else, Burns put Washington’s Chris Petersen at No. 4 and had Mullen tied with LSU’s Ed Orgeron at No. 5.
Getting his start in coaching as the wide receivers coach at Wagner (Staten Island, New York) in 1994, Mullen moved over to Columbia (New York, New York) in 1996. After spending the 1998 season as a graduate assistant at Syracuse, he was a GA for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the 1999 and 2000 seasons.
The quarterbacks coach under Urban Meyer at Bowling Green (2001-02) and Utah (2003-04), Mullen first joined the Florida program in 2005 as Meyer’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
Having tremendous success with Chris Leak and Tim Tebow, he departed for the head coaching position in Starkville in 2009. Leading the Mississippi State program for nine seasons, Mullen was named SEC Coach of the Year in 2014.
In his second year as Florida’s head coach, the Gators are 6-0 and ranked No. 7 in America. Traveling to face the No. 5 LSU Tigers (5-0) on Saturday with ESPN’s College GameDay in attendance, Mullen’s team is in for their toughest test yet.
The action from Tiger Stadium will kick at 8:00PM ET and will be televised on ESPN.
Waiting for Georgia fans show their angry about not including Kirby Smart in the list. I think Kirby Smart definitely have a case to be in top 5, but I also understand Burns prefer long time success rather than 3 years run.
I am ok with Riley as No.3 because his offensive mind and QB guru stuff are too attractive to offset those long time coach. But Smart should replace Orgeron. They both only coached 3 years and did a good job, but Smart has a better run than Orgeron. Don’t know why Burns prefer Orgeron than Smart.
Agreed that KS should be right up there.
Probably because of the East’s ineptitude and the head-to-head result, plus the Texas result. I dunno. I don’t really care. It’s just one person’s opinion. Not much to freak out over. I like Orgeron and Peter Burns. Kirby’s only been head coaching for 3 1/2 seasons. Dunno what Saban was doing then.
Might be that as conference foes Orgeron beat Smart.
I would question Saban over Dabo. Saban built machine at Alabama of course, but it had history and prestige from Bear Bryant, tons of donors, etc. What Dabo has done with lower ranked recruiting classes, less money, less history, etc is just amazing so I would tend to think he has done more with less and should be #1 at this point.
He’s won 2. Saban has won what, six? Seven? Dabo has a long way to go. Plus when you factor in Saban’s draft production, staff turnover, etc., the margin increases. Dabo needed the best QB in Clemson’s history one year and the worst game of a hobbled Tua’s career for the other.
Agree. I get the point building in Clemson is much harder than building in Alabama, but still 6-2 championships are too big difference to be comparable.
Dabo plays NO ONE all season so his players are not worn out when they get to the playoffs. That’s why he is able to beat everyone
I am baffled by Orgeron’s presence on the list.
I also think Riley’s still a bit new for a list like this. He was left an excellent roster and he coaches in a conference that doesn’t play defense.
4 coaches are better than the rest imo
1 Saban 2 Dabo 3 Smart 4 Riley
Yup, Kirby smart, 3rd best coach, lol!!
Orgeron on this list is laughable. Also Peterson might be best Pac 12 coach but not top 5. Tbh maybe Mullen is in top 5 behind the 4 above. Id take him over Jimbo for sure for #3 in SEC
Yet he beat your coach handily.
It’s Saban and Dabo, then everybody else unless Meyer comes back.
Smart’s shown he can recruit, but not necessarily that he is a championship head coach yet. Mullen’s shown that he is a great head coach, but also hasn’t won a championship yet.
Agreed 100%
Number five is funny.
But not as funny as a UT game. Now that is comedy gold!
Good for you. Still doesn’t negate that number 5 is not right.
1:Saban
2:Dabo
3:Meyer
The Rest:Fisher/Kelly/Smart/Mullen
Im as a big a fan of Mullen there is, but he hasnt even won a divisional title yet. Pump the brakes a bit, he is top 10, but he has some work to do. Everyone always sleeps on Brian Kelly, to me, he is the “Best of the Rest”.
Fisher is the most overrated head coach in America. He made his reputation off Jameis Winston but is nothing special outside of those three years. Good recruiter and good offensive coordinator, but not a great head coach or program builder.
Any coach that literally kisses a players #%^ is a joke. Fisher had to control that moron Winston. Instead Winston controlled Fisher. Tamu got what they deserve
I agree for the most part. Like it or not he is ine of the very few active H.C.s with a Natty.
Meyer does not deserve anything. He leaves a team when the going gets tough. Ron Zook is the sad reason for UFs last championships