Vegas doesn’t reward the humble. It rewards the magnetic. The bold. The showrunners. For years, UNLV played it safe. Respectable. Professional. But forgettable.
That era’s over.
With Dan Mullen and Josh Pastner, UNLV now has two of the most dynamic personalities in college sports — and for the first time in a generation, its coaching staff finally reflects the city it represents.
This isn’t about winning quietly.
It’s about building something people can’t ignore.
Dan Mullen: Swagger, Strategy, and SEC Pedigree
Dan Mullen doesn’t walk into a room — he owns it. Whether it’s a team meeting, a media podium, or a room full of boosters, Mullen speaks with confidence, humor, and an edge that screams: I’ve been to the mountaintop. Now I’m building another one.
He went toe-to-toe with Saban, beat Georgia, and made Mississippi State the No. 1 team in the country. He took Florida to an SEC title game and three New Year’s Six bowls. He’s been on ESPN sets. He knows how to sell a program. He knows how to lead.
And now he’s doing it with Allegiant Stadium as his backdrop and the Fertitta Football Complex as his HQ — arguably the best facilities in the Group of Five.
He didn’t come to babysit a rebuild. He came to build a monster. And with his energy and edge, he’s already turned UNLV into one of the loudest brands in the Mountain West.
Josh Pastner: Charisma on Overdrive
Josh Pastner is a walking, talking espresso shot. He’s not just energetic — he’s relentless. Always positive, always moving, always selling the vision. Whether he’s shaking hands with alumni, recruiting a high school senior, or hyping up a booster event, he’s the kind of coach people want to root for.
He was the youngest head coach in the country at Memphis. Took Georgia Tech to the NCAA Tournament and won ACC Coach of the Year. But what sets him apart isn’t just the résumé — it’s the personality.
He’s unapologetically high-energy. He engages, he connects, and he makes you believe. That matters in a city like Vegas, where charisma is currency — and Pastner’s got plenty in the vault.
Now he’s backed by the Mendenhall Center — a training facility so elite it hosts Team USA. Add in the Thomas & Mack Center’s big-game backdrop, and you’ve got a platform built for a coach who thrives under bright lights.
Two Coaches, One Vision: Sell the Brand, Build the Machine
What makes this duo special isn’t just that they’re smart, successful coaches — it’s that they’re made for the market.
In an NIL-driven era, in a city built on entertainment, Dan Mullen and Josh Pastner aren’t just coaching. They’re selling the hell out of UNLV.
They know how to fundraise. They know how to dominate a press conference. They know how to turn recruiting into a campaign, not a pitch. And they’re not afraid to own the moment.
They’re not blending in. They’re making noise.
And in Vegas? That’s how you win.
Odom and Kruger Were Solid. Mullen and Pastner Are Stars.
Let’s be honest: Barry Odom and Kevin Kruger worked hard. They respected the city. Odom, in particular, embraced Vegas’s toughness and brought the football program back to life.
But charisma? Buzz? Fear factor? That’s not what they brought.
Mullen and Pastner bring fire.
They bring cameras.
They bring fanfare.
They bring belief.
Vegas is a stage. UNLV finally hired headliners.
This Isn’t a Rebuild. It’s a Reinvention.
UNLV didn’t just make upgrades. They made a statement.
Dan Mullen and Josh Pastner aren’t here to chase Mountain West relevance.
They’re here to dare the Mountain West to keep up.
They’re big-brand thinkers in a city that craves spectacle. They’re stars with the systems to match. And together, they’re turning UNLV into something it hasn’t been in decades:
Unmissable.