LAS VEGAS (UNLVRebels.com) – UNLV's Dan Mullen has been named winner of the Steve Spurrier First-Year Coach Award, the Football Writers Association of America announced Thursday.
The award, presented by Chris Doering Mortgage, is given annually to a head coach who demonstrates an exemplary transition during the first year leading a program. In 2021, the trophy was named after Spurrier, a former Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Hall of Famer who made immediate improvement at his coaching stops at Duke, Florida and South Carolina.
Mullen will be honored as the best first-year coach in the FBS at a reception at Spurrier's Gridiron Grille in Gainesville, Florida, on February 23. He is the first Rebel to win the award since it was established in 2002 and just the second from the Mountain West (Boise State's Bryan Harsin in 2014). Former UNLV head coach Barry Odom was one of three finalists for the honor in 2023 when Jamey Chadwell of Liberty took home the honor.
During his first year at the helm in Las Vegas, Mullen led the Rebels to a 10-4 overall record that included a first-place and top-seeded finish in the Mountain West, an appearance in the conference championship game and a trip to the Scooter's Coffee Frisco Bowl. After leading the team to its first 6-0 start since 1974, his 10 wins were the most ever by a UNLV first-year coach. In addition, 2025 marked the first time that the Rebels defeated every non-conference opponent since joining a league in 1982 and their 5-1 record at Allegiant Stadium produced the best home winning percentage since 2000. UNLV scored at least 20 points in every regular-season game and scored at least 30 in a school-record 11 outings, including the first nine of the fall.
UNLV football made a historic hire in December 2024 as the longtime SEC head coach was appointed the 14th head coach in its history. A 103-game winner at the University of Florida and Mississippi State University, Mullen returned to the sidelines in Las Vegas after spending the previous three seasons as an ESPN college football analyst.
CHRIS DOERING MORTGAGE
Chris Doering Mortgage, based in Gainesville, Florida, was established in 2007 as a residential lending company providing mortgage products including conventional, FHA, USDA, and VA loans. College football analyst Chris Doering, a former wide receiver for Coach Spurrier both in college and the NFL, serves as the branch manager.
FWAA
Founded in 1941, the Football Writers Association of America consists of journalists, broadcasters, publicists, photographers and key executives in all areas of college football. The FWAA works to govern media access and gameday operations while presenting awards and honors, including an annual All-America team.
ALL-TIME FWAA/SPURRIER FIRST-YEAR COACH AWARD WINNERS
2025: Dan Mullen, UNLV
2024: Fran Brown, Syracuse
2023: Jamey Chadwell, Liberty
2022: Sonny Dykes, TCU
2021: Shane Beamer, South Carolina and Josh Heupel, Tennessee
2020: Karl Dorrell, Colorado
2019: Ryan Day, Ohio State
2018: Josh Heupel, UCF
2017: Lincoln Riley, Oklahoma
2016: Justin Fuente, Virginia Tech and Clay Helton, USC
2015: Tom Herman, Houston
2014: Bryan Harsin, Boise State
2013: Gus Malzahn, Auburn
2012: Urban Meyer, Ohio State
2011: Dana Holgorsen, West Virginia
2010: Jimbo Fisher, Florida State
2009: Chip Kelly, Oregon
2008: Paul Johnson, Georgia Tech
2007: Jeff Jagodziński, Boston College
2006: Chris Petersen, Boise State
2005: Steve Spurrier, South Carolina
2004: Mike Price, UTEP
2003: Steve Kragthorpe, Tulsa
2002: Tyrone Willingham, Notre Dame
