Mullen dodges questions about Miami interview

Dan Mullen would not address the reports on Tuesday that stated he interviewed for the open coaching position at Miami.

“I’m not talking about any of that,” Mullen said. “Every year I come here, every single year, you guys ask me the same questions. I’m not going to waste my time commenting on rumors on the Internet.”

The Mississippi State coach spoke with the media after the C Spire Conerly Trophy presentation at the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.

After Mullen watched his quarterback Dak Prescott become the first player to ever win the award in consecutive years, the attention turned to whether the seventh-year coach would return for an eighth.

“I haven’t met with (Mississippi State athletic director) Scott (Stricklin) if he’s going to keep me. I might be,” Mullen said in jest. “We haven’t had our end-of-the-year meeting yet.”

The two haven’t met since the Egg Bowl, but Stricklin would welcome him back.

“Yeah, absolutely. Dan’s done a great job,” Stricklin said. “We’ve got a lot of great coaches on our campus. We’re proud of all of them, including Dan.”

Stricklin and Mullen agreed to a four-year deal last season. Mullen earned $4 million for the 2015 season. He’s set to receive a bump in pay as the salary of the four-year contract averages $4.275 million annually.

Miami paid former coach Al Golden $2.5 million last year. ESPN reported on Tuesday the Hurricanes would be willing to increase that total for their next coach.

“I can understand why people would want to emulate the success we’ve had at Mississippi State,” Stricklin said. “Our job is to make sure we continue to make sure we put ourselves in the position to have the kind of success that other people look at and think they’d like to have for themselves.”

Multiple outlets reported Tuesday that Mullen interviewed at Miami. ESPN confirmed the head coach talked with the Hurricanes within the last 24 hours.The Miami Herald reported former Georgia coach Mark Richt is the lead candidate.

Unverified rumors have also connected Mullen to Virginia Tech, Georgia and Maryland. The Hokies hired former Memphis coach Justin Fuentes on Sunday. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Tuesday night that Georgia hired Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart.

“It’s the same deal. The only year you haven’t asked is my first year as the head coach. Same thing,” Mullen said. “Just because it’s on the Internet doesn’t mean it’s true.”

In 2011, Mullen attended the Conerly Trophy Presentation amid rumors he agreed to terms with Penn State. He and Stricklin vehemently denied the reports, and Mullen started 2012 with seven-straight wins.

“I think the year for us, every single year it’s the exact same thing,” Mullen said. “A couple years ago I was here at dinner while I was signing a contract at Penn State. The next year I was in Colorado and four and five different cities in one day when I was sitting at this award.”

Four years later Stricklin envisions a similar scenario with Mullen back in Starkville for 2016.

“I don’t have any reason to think otherwise,” Stricklin said.

Contact Michael Bonner at mbonner@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @MikeBBonner on Twitter.