 McElwain in 2016 | |
| Current position | |
|---|---|
| Title | Special assistant to athletic director |
| Team | Central Michigan |
| Conference | MAC |
| 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–present | Central Michigan (Special Asst. to AD) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 77–64 |
| 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 a former American football coach. He was the head football coach at Central Michigan University, a position he held from 2019 to 2024. He announced his retirement at the end of the 2024 season and remained at CMU within the athletics department. 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.