GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Dan Mullen poked his head out of door as the jet pulled up at Gainesville airport and flashed a huge smile.
A few minutes later, he told reporters: "I'm fired up. I'm excited."
The Gators hired Mullen as their head coach Sunday, bringing back the team's most successful offensive coordinator since Steve Spurrier's heyday.
At an afternoon news conference, Mullen still sported that smile.
"I’m thrilled to be here. I’m thrilled to be your coach. I thrilled to represent this university,” Mullen told the room packed with reporters and University of Florida staff, including Spurrier.
Mullen, his wife and two children arrived in Gainesville around 11 a.m. Mullen wore his 2008 national championship ring and showed off the shimmering, diamond-covered piece to anyone who wanted a look. He even offered to grab his 2006 title ring out of his bag.
"I want to thank Scott for believing in himself me, believing -- I think when you're at the University of Florida, you have the opportunity to hire just about anybody in the country," said Mullen. "You're at the premiere football program in America, and it shows an awful lot for the belief that he has in me and the style of football program that I run to give me this opportunity to come here and be a part of the unbelievable Gator Nation and the Gator family and be a part of this football program and lead this football program into the future."
The 45-year-old Mullen spent the last 13 years in the Southeastern Conference, cultivating offenses, developing quarterbacks and turning Mississippi State into a title contender. He won two titles during his four years (2005-08) at Florida.
The Gators hope he can do the same in his return.
"Dan is going to do a tremendous job at bringing accountability and toughness and his well-coordinated strength and conditioning program," UF athletic director Scott Stricklin said. "He’s going to work closely with our coaching staff our academic advisement staff our administration team to get every student athlete he coaches the opportunity to grow and excel at the highest level athletically academically and socially."
Stricklin also pointed out that Mullen has one of the best track records for working with quarterbacks, noting some of the successful ones he’s coached include Tim Tebow, the Cowboys 'Dak Prescott and Chiefs' Alex Smith.
UF Athletics' video documents mullen's first day as Gators' head coach
Day 1: ✅#GoGators pic.twitter.com/ptW17pNfrG
— Gators Football (@GatorsFB) November 28, 2017
How we got here
Mullen probably should have been Florida's top target from the start.
Instead, it took Chip Kelly spurning the Gators for Stricklin to turn to his close friend and former Starkville, Mississippi, neighbor.
Stricklin hired Mullen as Florida's next head coach Sunday, bringing back the guy who helped make Tim Tebow a star. The Gators announced the deal after Mullen told the Bulldogs he was returning to Gainesville.
The move reunites Stricklin and Mullen, who worked together in Starkville from 2009 to 2016. Stricklin was Mullen's AD for seven of those years.
Mullen previously spent four years (2005-08) as Florida's offensive coordinator and won two national titles while guiding Tebow to the top of the school record books. The Gators averaged 36.3 points a game and 7.1 yards a play during Mullen's tenure.
The Gators have mostly sputtered since.
Stricklin vowed to make Florida fun again when he parted ways with coach Jim McElwain last month. It looked like Kelly would be the guy to pacify a frustrated fan base. But Kelly chose UCLA over Florida on Saturday, and Stricklin was left to look elsewhere.
Seemingly unwilling to risk waiting for UCF's Scott Frost to possibly do the same, Stricklin made the safe choice.
It’s GREAT to be a Florida Gator! #GoGators @GatorsFB pic.twitter.com/s2OSZnMv5J
— Dan Mullen (@CoachDanMullen) November 27, 2017
Mullen's resume says it could be the smart choice, too. The 45-year-old Mullen knows Florida well, has recruited in the Sunshine State and led the Bulldogs to a bowl game for a school-record eight consecutive years. He is 5-2 in bowls.
"I strongly believe Dan is the most prepared candidate to have immediate and long-term success at the University of Florida," Stricklin said. "Coach Mullen is one of the best offensive minds in all of college football, and has an unbelievable track record in tutoring successful quarterbacks."
Mullen clearly overachieved at Mississippi State, which had lost at least eight games in seven of the eight seasons before his arrival.
Mullen spent nine years in Starkville, posting a 69-46 record that included a 33-39 mark in SEC play. He is second on the school's all-time coaching win list behind Jackie Sherrill.
Mullen is best known for developing quarterbacks. He played a substantial role in the college careers of Alex Smith (Utah), Chris Leak (Florida), Tebow (Florida), Dak Prescott (Mississippi State) and current Mississippi State starter Nick Fitzgerald.
Florida also is counting on Mullen to rebuild a program that regressed in many areas under McElwain.
"Coach Mullen will do a tremendous job in developing accountability and toughness through a well-coordinated strength and conditioning program," Stricklin said. "Dan will work closely with the coaching staff, academic advising staff and administrative team to give every student athlete he coaches the opportunity to grow and excel at a high level athletically, academically and socially."
Mullen's best season was 2014, when the Prescott-led Bulldogs were the No. 1 team in the country for five straight weeks before losing to Alabama. Mississippi State also was the No. 1 team in the inaugural College Football Playoff rankings.
Mullen inherits a Florida team that lacks a capable quarterback and has its worst scoring defense since 1946.
Suspensions and injuries were partly to blame. But poor recruiting and a failure to develop youngsters -- quarterback Feleipe Franks being a prime example -- also played a role in the team going from two-time Eastern Division champion to missing a bowl game for the second time in 27 years.
Still, Florida (4-7) was one of the more attractive jobs in college football.
"I can promise you that I will give relentless effort in everything I do to make sure that we return the football program to a National Championship level," said Mullen. "That's what it's all about for us here is to be judged and win championships at the University of Florida and I'm committed to doing that."
The Gators have a fervent fan base, one of the nation's top operating budgets ($125 million in 2017-18) and more than $100 million in facility upgrades planned. Throw in being surrounded by some of the top recruiting strongholds in the country, and Florida seems poised for a quick fix.
"Obviously, with his success at Mississippi State and plus his time here with Urban Meyer and the championships that they had here, he is well prepare to get us back into one of the top-10 programs in the country and competing for SEC championships," former Gators coach and current ambassador Steve Spurrier said in a video message. "Dan, we're happy to have you back at the University of Florida."
Students, alumni react
Florida fans had a lot to say Monday about their new head football coach, and most were thrilled.
Some fans said Mullen was their first choice from the starts, and others who had another favorite said no matter what they are excited for change and are positive about Mullen heading back to Gainesville.
UF students said Monday that Mullen can turn the Gators' football program around.
“What he’s done with Mississippi State -- he’s their best coach since the '50s. He also was here. He helped with Tebow. He helped when we won the national championship,” UF graduate student Alfred Jennett said. “All of the quarterbacks he’s touched have done really well, so I’m hoping he’ll do the same thing with Franks.”
At Social in Midtown, Gainesville Sports Radio 850 AM broadcast live, taking questions and comments from listeners.
Students walked by, going to and from class, poking their heads in to take a listen.
UF graduate and former women's soccer player Savannah Jordan said that with a new coach -- and motivated players -- she has faith in the team.
“Regardless of who the coach is, it’s the hard work and dedication -- they’re going to put in the time, so I’m excited to see what he does and the changes that he makes,” Jordan said.
Fans like Jordan are hopeful that Mullen's return could mean another national championship is in their near future.