Vols Football: 5 Realistic Coaches The Tennessee Fan Base Deserves

By Zach Ragan | Sep 17, 2017

GAINESVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 16: Head Coach Butch Jones of the Tennessee Volunteers is seen on the sidelines during the second half of their game against the Florida Gators at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on September 16, 2017 in Gainesville, Florida. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) /

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STARKVILLE, MS – NOVEMBER 5: Head coach Dan Mullen of the Mississippi State Bulldogs celebrates with fans after the end of an NCAA college football game at Davis Wade Stadium on November 5, 2016 in Starkville, Mississippi. Mississippi State beat the Texas A /

Dan Mullen

Head coach at Mississippi State

This kind of goes against my cardinal rule of analyzing coaches — you are what your record says you are.

Mullen is 64-42 in his career as a head coach. That’s not a record that inspires confidence.

But I think Mullen is a good coach. It’s not easy to be successful at Mississippi State, and he’s done pretty well there.

In Mullen’s first eight years as the Bulldogs’ head coach, he won 61 games. In the eight years before Mullen came to Starkville, Mississippi State won 29 games. That’s quite an improvement.

Mullen has probably topped out at Mississippi State. If he wants to ever compete for a championship, leaving for Tennessee would probably be his best bet. He wouldn’t be my favorite hire, but I think he’d be a damn good coach for the Volunteers.

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