🏈 UPDATE: Florida hires Jim McElwain as HC

[Bamabww]

By Pete Volk  @Pete_Volk on Nov 30 2014, 8:46p +

Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports


The former Alabama coordinator carries a hefty buy-out fee, but the Gators may be willing to part with the cash.

Colorado State head coach Jim McElwain is a "leading candidate" to replace Will Muschamp at Florida, according to Pat Forde. The former offensive coordinator for Alabama led the Rams to a 10-2 regular season record this season.

McElwain's buyout recently increased to $7.5 million, making him an expensive hire for any school. The Gators have the resources to throw around that kind of cash, but that's an heavy price to pay for a relatively unproven head coach.


After four years as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Alabama, McElwain was hired by Colorado State prior to the 2012 season. After a 4-8 year, the Rams went 8-6 with a New Mexico Bowl win last season. They were able to build on that further this season, winning 10 games and earning strong consideration for the Group of 5 major bowl berth.

Marshall head coach Doc Holliday and Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy are other names that have been seriously floated out there, although a recent report said Gundy is out of contention. We attempted to decide Florida's coaching search with WWE 2K15 Battle Royale, but McElwain was not one of the competitors.
http://www.sbnation.com/college-foo...7/florida-coaching-search-rumors-jim-mcelwain

 

[RollTideRandy]

I would really rather that not happen.

 

[BamaFan334]

Mike Gundy!?!? What has he ever done that stood out? He is not a winner (to the extent Florida would expect). I see he's out of contention, just can't believe he ever came up.

 

[mhardiman]

If this happens I fear this is too much to quick for McElwain, and this is not going to end well.

 

[bamafan4ever]

I'm with Randy here. I would not like to see Mac going to the Gators. I think he is an excellent coach and he was an awesome recruiter.

 

[bama alum]

Mike Gundy!?!? What has he ever done that stood out? He is not a winner (to the extent Florida would expect). I see he's out of contention, just can't believe he ever came up.

Uhm, he's a man... :sarc:

Is Freeze still being considered a candidate?

 

[TerryP]

 

[BAMANEWSBOT]

Report: Hugh Freeze mulling dueling offers from Ole Miss, Florida

According to a report by SB Nation, citing sources, the University of Florida has made current Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze an offer to take over as the Gators’ new head coach.

The report detailed that the offer made by UF was somewhere between $4.2 and $4.3 million annually, and it also stated that Ole Miss has made Freeze a counter offer of $4 million. Freeze is said to be weighing his options between the two schools at this time.

Freeze currently makes $3 million annually and is in the third year of a four-year deal with Ole Miss. Former Florida coach Will Muschamp made $2.73 million for the 2014 season.

The Rebels have already extended Freeze’s contract twice during his tenure, and athletic director Ross Bjork had previously stated Ole Miss was in the process of renegotiating Freeze’s contract for a third time. Per Bjork, those negotiations were not expected to be completed until after the season.

Freeze is 24-14 in three seasons at Ole Miss, and he’s led the Rebels to a bowl game in all three seasons. Ole Miss finished the 2011 season 2-10 and 0-8 in the SEC before Freeze arrived.

Including his one year at Arkansas State he is 34-16 in 50 career games at the FBS level, resulting in a win percentage of .680 in four seasons.

 

[TerryP]

The former Alabama coordinator carries a hefty buy-out fee, but the Gators may be willing to part with the cash.

Read the last paragraph: buyout negotiable is how I'm reading this...

 

[Bamabww]

ad the last paragraph: buyout negotiable is how I'm reading this...

Yeah, that how I read it. Good find Terry.

 

[Bamabww]

(I found this on the Gator's Rival website. Not much new info except it mentions they have talked)

Sources: Colorado State coach Jim McElwain a leading candidate for Florida job

By Pat Forde12 hours ago


.
View photo

Colorado State head coach Jim McElwain directs his team against Air Force in the fourth quarter of Air Force's 27-24 victory in an NCAA college football game at Air Force Academy, Colo., on Friday, Nov. 28, 2014. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Colorado State coach Jim McElwain has emerged as a leading candidate for the Florida vacancy, multiple sources told Yahoo Sports Sunday.

McElwain and Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley discussed the Gators job Saturday night, sources said.

Information has been gathered on McElwain by Florida officials since the school announced two weeks ago that Will Muschamp would not return as coach, sources said. It is unclear how many other candidates may be involved. Sources said Mississippi coach Hugh Freeze was among those on Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley's radar, but McElwain's name may be at the top of the list.

The 52-year-old McElwain is finishing his third season at the Mountain West Conference school. The Rams are 10-2 this year and were one of the strong possibilities for a major bowl bid from the "group of five" conferences outside the Power Five until being upset by rival Air Force on a field goal on the final play Saturday.

Colorado State has taken a step up in each of McElwain's years there. He took over a program that had gone 3-9 for three straight seasons from 2009-11 and has gone 4-8, 8-6 with a victory in the New Mexico Bowl, and now a 10-2 season that includes victories over rival Colorado and Boston College. The only other loss outside of Air Force was in September to Boise State.

McElwain's team features the No. 2 quarterback in the nation in pass efficiency in Garrett Grayson, who has thrown for nearly 3,800 yards, 32 touchdowns and six interceptions this season. The Rams also have the nation's leader in receiving yardage per game (149.1) and touchdowns (17) in Rashard Higgins.

McElwain has Southeastern Conference experience. He is a former Nick Saban assistant coach at Alabama, working as offensive coordinator and receivers coach from 2008-11 when the Crimson Tide won two national titles.

McElwain has a reported $7.5 million buyout, according to the Denver Post.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/source...ding-candidate-for-florida-job-011656592.html

 

[TerryP]

McElwain has a reported $7.5 million buyout, according to the Denver Post.

I ran across this article earlier this morning and it left me scratching my head. Why does Forde use that sentence? Specifically, "according to the Denver Post" when it's easy to find the actual contract itself? Hell, I realize I'm adept at finding things on the 'net...but geez, that's an easy search.

I like Forde but that's just...disappointing, and quite frankly lazy.

 

[riz]

I think Mac would do a fantastic job there, and I can't hate him, so I do not want this to happen.

 

[bcracker]

I agree @riz. I hope he doesn't take the job. I would hate for my respect to eventually turn to despite.

 

[PhillyGirl]

Wow. Quite the quick rise.

 

[alabama mike]

IMO, I do not think he takes the UF job. I read the last paragraph as that the University can or decide not to negotiate the buyout. 7.5 million is a lot of money for a job that is not a top 10 head coaching job IMO.

 

[Bamabww]

I don't want him at UF either but wonder if he'd be a fit at Nebraska?

 

[alabama mike]

@Bamabww IMO, Nebraska will go after former player and current Oregon OC Scott Frost. That program is not solid right now, how else do you explain a coach winning 9 games every year and getting fired? This is not the Nebraska of old.

 

[Bamabww]

@Bamabww IMO, Nebraska will go after former player and current Oregon OC Scott Frost.

@alabama mike, agree but he's never been a head coach. I read somewhere, and I can't find it now, the AD said the next HC would have HC experience. I believe Frost is the majority of the fan's choice but we know from experience that the fans don't always choose the best person for the job, i.e. our first Mike HC. And I don't know if Coach Mac will be up to the job. They have now fired three coaches. Might be time to fire the guy who fires the coaches.

 

[UAgrad93]

I like Coach Mac, so I don't want him at UF. I want those jort wearing assholes to suffer awhile. The Frost to Nebraska would be a good fit. Nebraska has been using alot of the spread principles, so the recruiting is geared in that direction. An intriguing possibility would be Johnson from Ga Tech. The triple option is vintage Nebraska. Problem is, would Johnson want to leave and would the powers that be, be willing to give him 3-4 years to recruit his type of kids into the program?