Jim McElwain Introduction Press Conference - Transcript - Central Michigan University Athletics

Central Michigan President Robert O. Davies Opening Statement
"Greetings it truly is a great day to be here in Michigan and to be a member of the Chippewa family. I'd like to welcome you all to this exciting opportunity I will be talked about the future of Central Michigan University specifically our football program and athletics.

"It is a historic day, a great day, as we welcome two new individuals to our family. I'd first like to welcome Karen McElwain. It has been a joy and a pleasure getting to know you in the past 24-48 hours and I sincerely appreciate the spark and family that you bring with you.

"Coach McElwain and Karen and I had the opportunity to have breakfast yesterday morning and in my conversations with coach and reinforced by his wife is the commitment, the family, I don't know how many times they raised the discussion that we are a family, that we are a very large family that works together, plays together, celebrates together, and succeeds together.

"It was during those conversations that I was convinced we had the right family, both coach and wife, to come to Central Michigan University and to work with our student-athletes, to work with our university.

"Moving everything forward, I'd like to thank Athletic Director Michael Alford, who spearheaded this search process; next time go a little bit faster. I'd also like to thank Trustee Kanine for his willingness to travel across the country to vet candidates to have a discussion and to provide immense advice to me as we move forward. I'd also like to thank all our trustees for setting the expectations of what we have for our athletics here at Central Michigan University.

"We are also joined by trustee Wardrop. Trustee Wardrop would you please stand and be recognized. You did that very quick but I did see that tie. That is a good-looking tie, sir.

"We have set the expectation at Central Michigan University for athletics and it's about two things: a ring on one hand and a diploma in the other. We expect our student-athletes to be students first, to be engaged in our community, to be scholars, to be gentlemen and gentlewomen as they compete on the field, in the classroom, and serve our communities. We expect them to be competitive in all aspects and we expect them to not only win championships but to earn a college degree and be prepared for the future.

"In discussing this with coach McElwain he put forward four imperatives for his student-athletes. The first, they must succeed as individuals; they are here to get an education, they are here to gain experiences, they are individuals. Second, they're students, they are students here to be scholars, to pursue their chosen careers and their chosen passions and to be prepared for life after football. And that gets to the third imperative, to be truly prepared for the future to be individuals who would not only engage in their chosen careers, passions, but also to be civically minded. And then four, and he did present these in this order, to be stellar athletes, and to me that is what collegiate athletics is about; it is representative of our university. We must be competitive, but we must always do it the right way.

"There is no question in my mind that Coach McElwain brings that philosophy, that sense of character, and I know that the future is bright for our football program and for the manner that he will engage.

"I was also extremely impressed by coach McElwain in how he engages the community. I pride myself on having lunches with students in the cafeterias, he does the same thing; I pride myself in being able to go into classrooms and talk with students, he does the same thing.

"He is here for the entire university and that is why we're excited. Central Michigan University is committed to one thing and one thing only, student success. That's why we're here, that's what we're doing, coach McElwain and his wife Karen are equally committed. We have a bright future, we have the right team, we will continue to move forward. Before I turn it over to the man who orchestrated it all, Michael Alford, I have one more thing to say, Fire up Chips!"

Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Michael Alford Opening Statement
"It's been a fast week; I can say that. President Davies thank you for your leadership through this process; all the advice. Couldn't have been done without you. Thank you Laura for understanding this process and your support and board of trustees thank you very much for this process especially Bill Kanine for traveling the country with me and no one can speak better about CMU than Bill Kanine, his love for this university really stood out during these interviews and he was able to express what CMU means to me, to him, and to all of you and it really showed through the process. Thank you Carla for letting me kidnap him for a week. Appreciate that. Thank you, Jim and Karen, for making the decision to be Chippewas. We couldn't be more proud.

"Thank you Glenn Sugiyama for your leadership in DHR International and assisting us in this process. And a special thank you to Coach Deromedi and Dave Keilitz, throughout the process and my tenure as athletic director for the advice and leadership they provide me on a daily basis, it is really special.

"Many of you asked what I was looking for when I came out here in front of the program. I wanted someone who knew how to build one, who had done it before, someone with a strong offensive philosophy, someone who took student-athlete development seriously, academics and social development. And a strong recruiter, someone who could bring in players, who had a track record of bringing in top-notch successful student-athletes to this campus, academically and athletically.

"You know, since I've been here head coaching experience has been an important factor; I've made five head coaching hires since I've been here, four came here with championship rings.

"Why Jim McElwain? He's a proven winner. He's won championships at the highest level, competed at the highest level. He's a strong leader who understands it's a privilege to be an athlete at CMU, and with that there are responsibilities and accountabilities that come with that privilege. He's a great recruiter, relates well with recruits, and presents a strong vision of what the program could be.

"He understands his responsibility to be an ambassador for this university and this community. He and his wife Karen and their family, Hannah, Lizzy, and Jarrett -- which I can't wait for them to come to Mount Pleasant -- are outstanding people, that are a perfect fit for this community.

"You know I had the pleasure of working with them at the University of Alabama, some of you, some writers, were texting me throughout this process, trying to connect dots on that. I got to know first hand, witness first hand, how much he gives not only to the community, but to his student-athletes and the love that they have for him. It was clear when talking to folks around the country the respect people have for CMU and this program and the great men who have led it prior to today. And I honestly feel Jim McElwain fits right in line with these outstanding teachers and leaders so please help me in welcoming Jim McElwain, your new Chippewa head coach. Fire up Chips!"

Head Coach Jim McElwain Opening Statement
First and foremost I've got to say thank you, and what an honor and how excited we are as a family. My wife Karen and how much we look forward to getting integrated to this university, but also the community. Working with our strong partnership with the Saginaw Valley Indian Chippewa Tribe, and all the things that come with being at such a great place.

During this time, obviously, my relationship with Michael his wife, our kids, we introduced a volleyball to his wife, and by the way they were pretty good players which was pretty awesome. That's been something I cherish, working hand in hand with Michael, obviously President Davies, and trusting us with such a great place. A place with tradition, a place that understands how to win, and what it's all about. A place that is supportive throughout not only this region, but throughout the country.

You hear "Fire Up Chips" it means something. That exciting, that's something we're really looking forward to getting behind.

Obviously, Bill (Kanine), we mentioned your travels in taking place in this. I want to say thank you, also this guy that believed in me 25 year or 20 year of a relationship. Glenn (Sugiyama) who helped in this search embedded a lot of people and did the background work on that, I told him I would keep it under five minutes and make sure that he's OK.

As we move forward the thing that drew us to this, is not only the community but the history and tradition. Coach (Roy) Kramer, coach (Herb) Deromedi, the great Chippewas that have played here. Obviously having the current ones playing in the National Football League as we speak.

But all the ones that have been here before, I welcome them back, they are the ones who have built part of that tradition. I want to get them involved as much as we can in that, get them involved in the community in every single way shape or form.

We look forward to moving up here, we look forward to being part of it, and being a part of a great university. Being a part of something that is bigger than any of us. That's what we really look forward to.

The challenge, we've got a challenge, as you go through life without a challenge, why do it? I'm looking forward to that. We have the tradition; yeah we hit a bump, that happens.

A time of changes sometimes can be uncertain for a lot of people. It's not easy, but you know what, if it was easy, everyone would be doing it. We're looking forward to taking this challenge on. I've had an opportunity to meet with our current players, we had a team meeting yesterday, and I'll start with my individual meetings with each and every single one of them as we move forward, starting tomorrow as we move on through the weekend. I look forward to finding out what their vision is, and what we can do to help them become successful.

As we talked about ways to run the program it starts with development. What is development? Development academically, development character wise, development for their career. I'm going to lean on Chippewa nation to really get involved as we network forward for these guys in a career development standpoint.

Finally, athletically, we're here to win games, but we're here to win them the right way. We're here to win them on the field in something that you can be proud of. We need some things right now to move forward, and there is going to be discipline, that's what it is.

All of us have choices -- as I explained to our team the other day -- the beautiful thing is we all have freedom of choice, but we don't have freedom from consequence. We need to learn that. To invest in ourselves. That starts with each individual player before we go ahead and make the hold.

This is going to be a transition, that will be fast and furious, yet we cannot cut corners. If you build the program without the stable foundation, as fast as you rise, it may crumble. As we do this, that is what we're going to do.

I love that through Michael and through President Davies, they're support and understanding what we need to do moving forward. Our excitement, Karen and I, I just can't tell you how excited we are.

In talking with my former boss (Jim Harbaugh), that came from the University of Michigan, the first words out of his mouth before I even said anything, he answered (the phone) "Fire Up Chips."

I said 'What do you know about that?' He said, 'My brother-in-law went there; I hear it every time we get together as a family.'

I do know that people know what a great place this is, what a great opportunity this is. And I really look forward to being a part of all of you, getting a chance as this moves forward to shake everybody's hand, look you in the eye, and ask what can we do to be great. What is it that we need to do to be great.

Some of that takes resources. We'll figure out how to do that, but more than resources, it's people. That's what I really love about this place, that what we really love about this place, the people. I look forward to getting involved with the players, their families, their lives, to help them be successful in the future and as we put this thing together, it's going to be a lot of fun. More than anything I appreciate everything you do in support with us. Thank you so much, I'm going to take seat, we're going to take some questions and we'll move forward from there. But at the end as my phone call from my former boss said, "Fire Up Chips!"

Question & Answer
Question: You mention fast and furious, the transition like that. You haven't been here for long, but what have you seen to this point, and in talking with people, that you like about this program and about his team? What you see that you can use right away going forward.
Coach McElwain: First I want to start with the team, I've had the opportunity to watch some video of just how they play. There are some parts here, there are some parts to where we can win in a hurry. Now, if it happens, we'll see, only time will tell. I do believe that there are some parts here we can put together to be successful. In saying that, in the processes, what I've done and am doing, is interviewing every single person one on one within the organization that touches the football program. It takes awhile, but the thing that resonates is you find that the positives far outweigh any kind of the negative. One of those things is the people, or tradition, and more than anything is what a special place it is. You really hear that, and yet sometimes those are just words. These are real, these are in one-on-one conversations. Looking forward to building on those positives while we attack some of the things we need to get better at.

Question: Looking at you and what you've been able to do in the past with the winning culture and winning tradition, what's the game plan, especially speaking to the offense which has been a key struggle in the past. How do you plan to turn things around?
Coach McElwain: It takes a lot of work with a lot of people involved, in doing that currently looking and talking with everybody here, the coaches that are here as we move forward and set a plan that fits our team. The one thing I think happens philosophically from a football standpoint, when you go into a program, you have to play to your strengths, and not just overhaul immediately. Because what happens is you're really digging out. Getting the opportunity as we go through our winter conditioning program, and I'm going to emphasize what I said there – 'our winter conditioning program' which might scare some of these players away, I get it. We want to find out who wants to be here, we want to find out who's committed to being a Chippewa; that is important. Yet, that gets lost in translation. We're going to find out who our leaders are, we're going to find out who we can count on and move forward and build from there. Where are our strengths? I've got an idea of some, but I haven't seen them yet, right? I haven't met with them individually, so I want to find out how they're made up, what makes them want to be a Chippewa and understand this: It's a privilege, and not a right.

Question: You said you met with the players, what are some of the things that you noted while meeting with the team itself yesterday?
Coach McElwain: I met with the team yesterday, I'll meet with individuals tomorrow, but they need to learn how to sit up. They need to learn how to focus, they need to learn how to communicate non-verbally. I think for them it was an eye opener. As I said before, being a Chippewa, understanding the tradition, the burden that carries. We've got to make sure they understand that. This is going to be a place that cares about where they are, care about who they are, and care about the people around them. It will start full tilt when we get back on the seventh, or whenever we start classes in January. We'll find out who's committed to being great.

Question: Being hired this early, and this late during signing period. What's your plan for the recruiting process, especially for this year's class?
Coach McElwain: This is only the second year of the early signing, we have some guys that are committed and we're going to bring some guys in this weekend. We'll bring some guys in next weekend, lay out our vision and our plan as an organization, as a football program. Obviously, introduce ourselves to them. We would love to have all of them stay, I understand the part of the business too. With that being said, we're going to look to get some guys signed early, I had an opportunity to watch some video. Not as extensively as I will in the 2020, 2021 and 2022 classes, moving forward. We need to get a jump on those guys in January when we're out. In the mean time we want to hold on to those guys; they've been committed to this university for a reason. As I told our team yesterday I am not here to say, "you're not my guys, you're somebody else's." That's not it. We're all together in this. I look forward to helping them, as I do the recruits, achieve the goals they have. That's what it's all about. We'll go this weekend, I'll get on the road next week. Then that last weekend before Christmas break, and then get ready to hit it once we get back.

Question: What is your plan to fill out the rest of your staff? Are you targeting coaches you've had previous relationships with? Or nationally to fill out your staff?
Coach McElwain: Absolutely, first and foremost, to get the best people in here, the best coaches, that are going to affect these young men in a positive way, and be involved in their everyday life, understand that they're commitment is putting themselves second, and putting the players and the community first. As you talk about that, there's kind of a fit scale -- what is that fit? Obviously there is a fit to the recruiting areas, the footprint that we need to be successful in. There is a fit positionally with the guys that are there. There is a lot of fit with the person bringing them into the community. Those are all very important things that we do, and that's what we're doing right now. I'm in the process of meeting with everyone in the organization. We'll get things hired. I'm not in a huge rush, because we want to make it right. Sometimes if you move too fast, you maybe don't get the right fit. That's kind of the direction we're headed. To answer your question, the people we bring in will be committed to the players, involved their lives, and be committed to this community, and this university, and understand the importance of what that is.

Question: What did you learn from your time at Florida, and kind of behind the scenes at Michigan?
Coach McElwain: You know we've had an amazing run with coaching. Every single place we've been, and my wife is going to write an amazing book called, "The People We Collect Along the Way." We've had an opportunity to meet wonderful people in a lot of different situations. I thoroughly, more than you could imagine, enjoyed the experience with coach Harbaugh -- what he allowed me to do behind the scenes. The things I learned from that great institution, I've got to tell you something the University of Michigan is a special, special place. For us to be a part of that and to learn, and to work with Jim. I've also been at Michigan State too; we often say the best place for our kids would be in Haslett, Michigan. It was incredible, they still talk about Little Sable, they still talk about going to the beach. Going up to Boyne, it's something we really treasure. The experience and the people I was able to work with, I worked with some fantastic people and great administration. I look forward to building and keeping the relationship and what we learned from Michigan.

Question: Can you talk about the challenge of recruiting MAC vs SEC and Big Ten athletes? How do you evaluate that and get guys who fall through the cracks?
Coach McElwain: Right, I think the key word you said there is the evaluation and knowing what we're looking for. Sometimes we've got to make sure we develop, we have to foresee the future a little bit, and maybe you're not getting the ready-made person. I get it . A lot of those ready-made persons are to the Big Ten and SEC. With that said there is a lot of great players. With us it's going to be the evaluation of the fit, the evaluation of the need, an upside of which we can look into that evaluation. We've got some really good guys already committed. I'd love to say their name, but we can't say that correct? Can I get a compliance answer on that? As we move forward that's something we really need to do. We are really going to attack, we're going to really work on evaluation and recruiting so we can get in depth and see what direction we need to go.

Question: What kind of relationship do you have with Coach Bonamego and what kind of conversation have you had?
Coach McElwain: Sure, I've met John, we've run into each other at some things. I didn't know him prior to that at all. I have not been able to talk to him yet, it is something I am going to do. I've heard nothing but great things about him. He's done some really good things here with his staff, things that he should be really proud of. I understand, some things don't work out, he's a guy in our profession who is highly respected. It's not going to take him long, moving forward from this. Just knowing already knowing the quality he is. I look forward to visiting with him, to look behind the curtain a little bit to help us move forward as well.

Question: Is this your first time being in Mt. Pleasant? If so, what's your first impression?
Coach McElwain: No, not our first time. Like I said we've lived in the state of Michigan, not very far down the road before. We've traveled through. I've worked closely with a very good friend of a former Chippewa player that was a great running back here. He would fill me in on a lot of things about this place. I know coaches that have been here in the past as well. Some of those coaches have reached out. Butch (Jones) has. Guys that have a lot invested in this place, and are looking to help. I am looking forward to that.

Question: You talk about your time at Michigan, and how things don't always work out the way you want them to. How have you learned from that, and how is that a tool for you moving forward?
Coach McElwain: Sure, it was one of those things where I think any time you go through those things in life it gives you an opportunity to reflect, it gives you an opportunity to actually look back and say, 'OK here's an inventory.' Learning a bunch. I would never give that experience up for anything. I had a great, great experience; great players, great people that I've worked with and people that are obviously friends to this day. I think the biggest piece is to look back and do a total inventory of that, and moving forward, be able to incorporate what you've learned as we build a great place at Central Michigan.

Question (addressed to Michael Alford): Michael, tell us what this process was like, it was very quick and give us the time table of what happened and why you landed on Jim being the next head coach.
Michael Alford: Any time you go through this process, I've gone through it before, you have to move quick. You have to have a list, and you definitely have people you want to (contact) immediately. With Glen's help, helping to orchestrate people. He can talk to people, I can't through the process. Then having a target, having someone you're familiar with, someone who's a winner. I went through what I was looking for and the community fit. That was the biggest process, as I pulled up Jim and having Noah, Karen in the family, OK check box; offensive philosophy, check box; proven winner, championship, check all the boxes. So he became the primary target from Day 1. As we went through the process, we just kept coming back to Jim McElwain; I couldn't find anyone remotely as qualified for this community, than this man or his family.

Question: You get this phone call, what kind of runs through your mind as Michael gives you the call and maybe it's that first call?
Coach McElwain: How this stuff works, I was fortunate to work with someone at Michigan who was a former coach here when things went that way, we visited about all the positives here. I thought that was pretty good. Our first contact through Glen was something I was like, 'Of course!' It really had as much to do with knowing the AD, knowing the vision, feeling comfortable with him and his family, and knowing that I really look forward to working together. Helping him become successful, which in turn helps this guy be successful. That's what this job is. This job is to help the people around you be successful in every way, shape, and form. I just love working hand in hand with a guys that I know has our back.

Question: Coach, you touched on this a little bit. Days like this, no one ever talks about defense; they all want to know about offense. For you, how have you evolved as an offensive coach, your philosophy, and the game changes. It changes game to game, and year to year. Where do you feel like this program would be, and will that be the main emphasis do you feel like going forward with the offense?
Coach McElwain: Sure, let's face it, the offense fills up the stadium, people enjoy it. What I had an opportunity to do in my last role was to implement somethings and be a part of that, to see current trends and the things that are out there which have really excited me as well. Any old ball coach will tell you it's about blocking and tackling, but how you do it and how you attack, that's the fun part. I think the parts we have here are something that we can exploit in a positive way to create explosive plays. That's one of the big things, is explosive plays. What you touched on is it's three phases. You have to help your defense in any way shape or form, and not leave them out there to where their getting worn down. It's a three-phase deal between your special teams, defense and offense. I look forward to having a very aggressive defense, I look forward to implementing something where you know what? We need to make some things happen, and if you do give up a big play, let's give the ball back to the offense. Let's not just sit there. Now to blend those together, I can't sit there and tell you what the roster exactly looks like, it's going to look a lot different coming next fall. I've had a great opportunity to study, a great opportunity to see a lot of trends, and now let's see if those trends fit our players.

Central Michigan University Athletics

Jim McElwain Introduction Press Conference - Transcript

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