Fansided

25 greatest SEC Football coaches of all time

By John Buhler

Dec 31, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban reacts in the third quarter against the Michigan State Spartans in the 2015 CFP semifinal at the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2015; Arlington, TX, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide head coach Nick Saban reacts in the third quarter against the Michigan State Spartans in the 2015 CFP semifinal at the Cotton Bowl at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 3, 2015; College Station, TX, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Dan Mullen watches warm ups prior to a game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 3, 2015; College Station, TX, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Dan Mullen watches warm ups prior to a game against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports /

22. Dan Mullen

Jackie Sherrill may still be the most revered head football coach in Mississippi State history, but it won’t be long before current head coach Dan Mullen surpasses him. A former college tight end turned Urban Meyer offensive disciple, Mullen would take his dual-threat, read-option quarterbacking game from the Florida Gators to the Mississippi State Bulldogs when he first took the job in 2009.

Mississippi State had struggled to find itself under its former head coach in Sylvester Croom. It didn’t take long for Mullen’s elite coaching talent to shine through. After a 5-7 campaign in 2009, Mullen would lead the Bulldogs to a bowl in 2010. Mississippi State has made a bowl game ever holiday season since them.

Though he hasn’t won the SEC West yet, keep in mind the era of SEC football Mullen was coaching in. He was in the same division as Nick Saban and Les Miles the entire time. Mississippi State has gone 61-42 (29-35) under Mullen, including a 10-3 (6-2) season in 2014.

One thing that Mullen can always hold his visor on is that his 2014 Mississippi State team was the first team to be ranked No. 1 in the first College Football Playoff poll. Sure, it helped to have Dak Prescott at quarterback, but Mullen is becoming the new gold standard in Starkville. He has gone 5-2 in bowl games. Mullen should surpass Sherrill as the winningest coach in Mississippi State well before the end of the decade.

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