Ex-Florida coach Jim McElwain makes major career decision

Sep 14, 2024; Champaign, Illinois, USA; Central Michigan Chippewas head coach Jim McElwain during the second half against the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ron Johnson-Imagn Images

Former Florida coach Jim McElwain announced Wednesday that he is ending his coaching career at the end of the 2024 season.

In a statement released Wednesday, McElwain announced that he will retire as head coach at Central Michigan at the end of the year. He will remain as a special assistant within the school’s athletic department, and a search for his successor will begin immediately.

McElwain did not offer a specific reason for the decision, which comes as something of a surprise. At 62, he is still relatively young in coaching terms. He is said to be one of the subjects of an NCAA investigation relating to last season’s Connor Stalions fiasco, but a source told ESPN’s Chris Low that McElwain made the decision to step aside himself and was not pushed out.

McElwain has a 77-63 career record, though he is best remembered for his 22-12 stint at Florida from 2015-2017. After going 19-8 in his first two years in Gainesville, he was fired after a 3-4 start in 2017.

In six seasons at Central Michigan, McElwain has led the Chippewas to a pair of bowl appearances. That will not happen this year, with the team sitting at 4-7 with one game remaining.