Oct. 21, 1999

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Most coaches agree that in order to break into the world of coaching, a person must gain experience first. The easiest way to do so is through obtaining a coveted position as a graduate assistant. Today, the Insider features the history behind the two Notre Dame graduate assistants in this two-part series.

Tucked away in a closet-like office reside a vital part of the Notre Dame football program. The office is cluttered with tapes, computers, a television monitor and remnants of afternoon snacks.

There are no spectacular views of campus from their office window, the only spectacular view is that of a beach and it rests on a computer screen saver. The lack of inspirational views and the long hours do not stop graduate assistants Taver Johnson and Dan Mullen from realizing what an opportunity it is to coach at the University of Notre Dame.

“When you are involved in the intricate part of the game and the tradition, there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t feel lucky,” Johnson said. “It is unbelievable to walk out of the office and see the Dome and Touchdown Jesus. To have a locker in the locker room and have keys to the stadium, it is just hard to explain. It is every thing that you would imagine plus some.”

Johnson is no stranger to Notre Dame. He worked at the University for five summers at the annual football camp. Johnson brings to the program years of experience not only as a player but as a coach as well.

Last year, Johnson was the defensive coordinator at Millikin University in Decatur, Ill, where his defensive unit registered as the top-scoring defense in the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin. In conjunction with his duties as defensive coordinator, he ran all the recruiting activities. In 1996 and ’97, he worked as the strength coach and then as the linebacker coach at Millikin. “Taking a position like this, even though I was a coach, was a stepping stone,” Johnson said. “The two programs that I have been involved with have been great Division III programs with winning records and National Championships behind them. When you go from great Division III programs to one of the major college programs in the country with this position, it is pretty good.

“Also the knowledge of the game and all aspects of college football are multiplied. To take an opportunity like this is really great. I knew it is an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up.”

Johnson graduated in 1994 from Wittenberg where he also coached in the ’94 and ’95 season. While a student, he was a four-year letter winner. He captained the football squad his senior and junior year. The Associated Press named him first-team All-American at the linebacker position both in ’92 and ’93. Those same seasons he was named the defensive player of the year for the North Coast Athletic Conference.

Mullen also brings with him a rich knowledge of the game and is also a first year graduate assistant at the University. Although this is not the first graduate assistant coaching position he has held. Last year, he held the position at Syracuse where he worked with Notre Dame offensive coordinator Kevin Rogers.

Mullen earned his degree in exercise and sport science from Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania. He was two-year starter at Ursinus in the tight end slot where his senior year he earned first team all-Centennial Conference honors as a senior.

After graduation, he moved to Wagner College where he spent the 1994 and ’95 season as the wide receiver coach. In 1996, Mullen earned a graduate degree in education. He spent the 1996 season as the wide receiver coach at Columbia before moving on to Syracuse.

“In anything but especially in coaching profession, it comes down to who you know and if you know the right people,” Mullen said obtaining the coveted graduate positions. “You are going to be given an opportunity. What you do with that opportunity, if you take full advantage of it, then you will be given another. Everywhere I started I was given a slight opportunity and I have really tried to work as hard as I can to take the best advantage of that opportunity. “

Both agree that the positions that they hold are the best steps they have taken in their coaching careers. Besides both being full-time coaches, the two also are graduate students who are studying to obtain a degree.