 McElwain in 2016 | |
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Head coach |
| Team | Central Michigan |
| Conference | MAC |
| Record | 33–35 |
| Annual salary | $1.6 million |
| Biographical details | |
| Born | March 1, 1962 Missoula, Montana, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Eastern Washington (1984) |
| Playing career | |
| 1980–1983 | Eastern Washington |
| Position(s) | Quarterback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1985–1986 | Eastern Washington (GA) |
| 1987–1994 | Eastern Washington (QB/WR) |
| 1995–1999 | Montana State (OC/WR/ST) |
| 2000–2002 | Louisville (WR/ST) |
| 2003–2005 | Michigan State (AHC/WR/ST) |
| 2006 | Oakland Raiders (QB) |
| 2007 | Fresno State (OC/QB) |
| 2008–2011 | Alabama (OC/QB) |
| 2012–2014 | Colorado State |
| 2015–2017 | Florida |
| 2018 | Michigan (WR) |
| 2019–2024 | Central Michigan |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 2025- | Central Michigan (Assistant AD) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 77–63 |
| Bowls | 3–2 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 2 SEC Eastern Division (2015–2016) 2 MAC West Division (2019, 2021) | |
| Awards | |
| MWC Coach of the Year (2014) SEC Coach of the Year (2015) 2× AFCA Regional Coach of the Year (2014–2015) MAC Coach of the Year (2019) | |
James Frank McElwain[1] (born March 1, 1962) is an American football coach. He is the head football coach at Central Michigan University, a position he has held since 2019. He announced his retirement on November 20, 2024 and will conclude the season as head coach but plans to remain at CMU. McElwain served as the head football coach at the University of Florida from 2015 to 2017, and Colorado State University from 2012 to 2014, where he was named the Mountain West Conference Coach of the Year in 2014. He was the offensive coordinator at the University of Alabama from 2008 to 2011.
- ^ Hall, Graham (September 4, 2015). "Expecting Perfection: Jim McElwain prepared for his first season at UF | Sports | alligator.org". Alligator.org. Archived from the original on July 17, 2018.