The Florida Gators have signed head coach Dan Mullen to a three-year contract extension. Mullen, who joined Gator Nation in 2017, will receive a $500,000 signing bonus on July 1, 2021. Additionally, Mullen will earn a retention bonus of $1,000,000 if he is still retained as the head coach on December 21, 2021. Mullen’s annual compensation will be $7,604, 200, an increase from his original compensation of $6,103,000.
What This Means For Florida and Mullen
With Mullen’s new contract, he is now the third highest-paid coach in the SEC and the fourth highest-paid coach in the country. While that qualifies as a high number, most reasonable fans would argue that he deserves it. Mullen has returned the Gators to a contender level within the SEC and should only improve the team in the future ahead. Most would go so far to argue that making the college football playoff now qualifies as a reasonable possibility for the Gators. Sure, we will admit that stands out as a tough mountain to climb, but Mullen has already brought some great victories to Gainesville.
Mullen, 49, went 29-9 in his first three years at UF, including back-to-back double-digit win seasons and a record-setting offense last fall. Mullen has also led the Gators to three consecutive New Years Six Bowl appearances.
Concluding Thoughts
Mullen and company will begin their 2021 campaign at home on September 4th against the FAU Owls. The Owls qualify as a decently competitive team within their conference, but still stand out as a relatively easy matchup for the Gators nonetheless. So, while a few tough opponents will attempt to take down the Gators in the upcoming season, Florida fans can expect smooth sailing to start it all out.
Until then, it’s all smiles in the Swamp.