DePaul men’s basketball head coach Chris Holtmann has added an experienced basketball mind to his bench, in the hiring of Bryan Mullins as an assistant coach. Mullins comes to DePaul following five seasons at Southern Illinois as the Salukis head coach.
“Bryan is a talented coach and someone who has deep connections in the state of Illinois,” said Holtmann. “His success as an assistant on Loyola’s Final Four run speaks for itself. The Mullins name has been an important part of basketball in this state for many years. Bryan has earned a reputation as an incredibly bright basketball mind, tireless worker and excellent player developer. We are thrilled to add Bryan and his family to the DePaul family.”
Mullins makes a familiar return to the Windy City as a native of Downers Grove, Ill. Mullins started his coaching career at Loyola Chicago where he spent six seasons as a part of Porter Moser’s staff, including one as associate head coach. During Mullins’ time in Rogers Park, the Ramblers totaled 119 wins for a .580 winning percentage. Mullins was an integral part in Loyola’s 2018 Final Four run and the program’s back-to-back Missouri Valley Conference Championships. In 2018, the Ramblers won a school-record 32 games and finished the season with a No. 7 national ranking.
In five seasons at the helm of his alma matter, SIU, Mullins recorded an 86-68 record which included a 19-13 mark in 2023-24. He guided six All-Conference selections and the 2020 MVC Freshman and Newcomer of the Year.
In 2019-20 under Mullins, the Salukis led the conference and ranked 15th nationally in scoring defense while winning seven-straight Missouri Valley games. Following the conclusion of the pandemic-shortened season, Mullins finished second in conference Coach of the Year voting and was named to ESPN’s 40 under 40 list of top coaches under 40 years old. He was also a finalist for the Joe B. Hall Award, given to the nation’s top first-year head coach.
The following season, 2020-21, Mullins and the Salukis jumped out to a 7-0 start to the season, a program best since 1948. In 2022-23, Mullins led SIU to 23 wins, its most as a program since 2007.
As a player at Southern Illinois, Mullins lead the program to two NCAA Tournament appearances and one NIT berth. The program reached the 2007 Sweet Sixteen and a No. 11 ranking in the national polls. His list of accolades reads long including the school record for assists, two-time conference Defensive Player of the Year, two-time Academic All-American and a member of the SIU Athletics Hall of Fame.
Following his collegiate career, Mullins played professionally in France for four years before retiring and embarking on his coaching career.
Mullins graduated from Southern Illinois in 2009 with a degree in finance.
