The Florida Gators have chomped head coach Dan Mullen.
Dan Mullen was fired as the Gators’ football coach on Sunday.
According to Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin, Mullen was allowed to coach the regular-season finale against Florida State on Saturday but turned it down, saying he didn’t want to be a distraction. Assistant running backs coach Greg Knox was named interim head coach.
Mullen was 34-15 in four seasons at Florida. His replacement will be the Gators’ fourth head coach in eight seasons.
— Dan Mullen (@CoachDanMullen) November 21, 2021
A day after the Gators’ sixth loss in nine games, Stricklin made the decision.
Mullen led the Gators to a trip to the SEC title game last year.
Florida has lost 9 of its last 11 games against Power 5 opponents, including four straight.
The recent loss to Missouri was their 6th loss of the season.
Gators will soon be hiring their fourth head coach in 8 years.
Florida isn’t the only significant Power 5 program seeking to hire a head coach. USC, LSU, Washington, Virginia Tech, and TCU are among the teams with openings.
Stricklin said the school would fulfill the contract terms, paying Mullen his entire $12 million buyout. He is owed $6 million within 30 days of being fired, with the remaining $6 million to be paid out yearly in $1 million payments.
Florida has paid a total of $13.8 million in buyout/settlement money to the two football coaches who preceded Mullen, McElwain, and Muschamp.
With Mullen out at Florida, 10 of the 14 SEC head coaches entering the 2022 season will have been in their positions for two or fewer seasons.
The Gators can become bowl eligible if they win the game hosting Florida State.
