UNLV AD reveals school can currently cover first two years of Dan Mullen contract

UNLV athletics director Erick Harper told the school’s Board of Regents the department is operating with $26 to $31 million in debt, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Mick Akers. That led to questions about whether the Rebels can cover Dan Mullen’s contract.

UNLV can only cover the costs of the first two years of Mullen’s deal, Harper said. The disclosure came after regent Joseph Arrascada asked how the school planned to pay his $17.5 million deal, valued at a salary of $3.5 million on average.

Harper responded by saying the plan is to raise money from donations and increased revenue from football games, according to the Review-Journal. That would then cover the final three years of the contract.

“We have the funds to pay the coach over the next two years,” Harper said. “We have been working with our donors to assist with philanthropic dollars. We have one that has already paid their commitment, and that money is in an unrestricted line and that will be utilized in the future to help with the salaries.”

As it deals with its budget situation, UNLV could be in line to receive millions as a result of conference realignment moves. After five schools left the Mountain West for the Pac-12, between $19 million and $24.8 million in exit fees are due to the conference. However, litigation is ongoing and the Mountain West said it agreed to enter mediation.

Mullen is making his return to the sidelines after two years as an ESPN analyst and will replace Barry Odom after he left for Purdue. He previously worked as the head coach at Florida, amassing a 34-15 record, including a 21-14 mark in SEC play. That came after nine seasons as the head coach at Mississippi State, where he went 69-46 and led the Bulldogs to a 10-win season in 2014.

Part of UNLV’s pursuit of Mullen included an NIL and revenue-share commitment, On3’s Pete Nakos reported. The school is gearing up to roll out one of the top budgets in the Mountain West.

Dan Mullen was active in the transfer portal after taking over at UNLV as he worked to fill out his roster. The Rebels have more than 23 players coming in from the portal, including two quarterbacks in Anthony Colandrea and Alex Orji. In fact, he argued that time on TV helped him as he transitions back to coaching. Mullen said he watched film on players across the sport, leading him to some hidden gems.