Nate Mullen joined the Lenoir-Rhyne Football coaching staff as the Running Backs Coach prior to the 2025 season.
Mullen comes to Hickory following a year as the Tight Ends Coach / Offensive Quality Control (WR's) at the University of Texas El-Paso. While at UTEP he handled anything scheme related in the box during games as well as charting coverages. Mullen also was heavily involved in recruiting and coached the punt and kick returners. His punt return unit was third in the country with an average of 19.68 yards per return and had zero muffed punts all year.Â
Prior to his time at UTEP, Mullen was the Running Backs Coach and Co-Special Teams Coordinator at UVA-Wise, as well as filling in as the interim offensive coordinator and play caller for the final game of the season. He spent time in Kentucky as a Special Teams/RB/TE graduate assistant for Murray State and as a Wide Receiver graduate assistant at the University of Southern Mississippi.Â
As a player, Mullen spent time at both UNC-Charlotte (2015-17) and Western Carolina (2018-19). For his career he totaled 106 receptions for 1000 yards and caught three touchdowns. He had 18Â kick and 25 punt returns for his career and was named a team captain for his senior season at Wesetern Carolina.Â
 Originally from Harrisburg, N.C., Mullen graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Western Carolina in 2019 and his Masters in Sports Management from the University of Southern Miss in 2022.Â
