Central Michigan University Athletics
Welcome Jim McElwain
12/3/2018 5:12:00 PM | Football
New CMU football coach brings proven track record
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. – It isn't Jim McElwain's first rodeo, or his first introductory press conference.
McElwain was introduced on Monday as Central Michigan's football coach during a press conference in the John G. Kulhavi Events Center on the CMU campus.
"You hear 'Fire up Chips,' it means something," McElwain said. "That exciting; that's something we're really looking forward to getting behind."
McElwain, the 29th coach in program history, comes to CMU with an outstanding resumé that includes league coach of the year honors in two conferences, the Southeastern (Florida) and the Mountain West (Colorado State), and a reputation for being offensive-minded.
Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Michael Alford introduced McElwain, who spent the 2018 season as an assistant on coach Jim Harbaugh's Michigan staff.
"Why Jim McElwain?" Alford said. "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 … and presents a strong vision of what the program could be."
McElwain, who was named to head the program on Sunday, said he met with the entire team on Sunday and plans to begin meeting with each student-athlete, as well as others involved in the program, on Tuesday.
McElwain said that he has watched video of the 2018 Chippewas, who finished 1-11, and that he sees potential. He said he will spend the next several weeks getting down to the business of what the Chippewas need to be successful, and of hiring his coaching staff.
"We want to find out who wants to be here, we want to find out who's committed to being a Chippewa," McElwain said. "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 make sure they understand this: It's a privilege, and not a right."
He addressed the No. 1 position – and the question on everyone's mind – quarterback. The Chippewas used four quarterbacks in 2018.
"That's something we've got to work on and I can't sit here and say I've looked at it enough to say 'this is exactly what it is,'" he said. "But I know we've got to get production at that spot, we've got to get leadership at that spot for us to move forward as a program."
Nuts and bolts and specific positions aside, McElwain said discipline and respect are staples of his program. In his first meeting with his players, on Sunday, he said he told them "they need to learn how to sit up.
"They need to learn how to focus, they need to learn how to communication non-verbally. I think for them it was an eye-opener. Being a Chippewa, understanding the tradition. 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.
"We've got to get disciplined. We've got to do things that don't hurt ourselves. That's the first thing about being successful on the football field is to understand it's a team game and we've got to really remedy that, and remedy it in a hurry."
Moving the football was the Chippewas' biggest issue in 2018. They ranked near the bottom among Football Bowl Subdivision schools. Meanwhile, the defense was good and, at times, great. Four Chippewas, all of them on defense, earned First Team All-Mid-American Conference honors and CMU was among the very best against the pass in the nation.
"Let's face it, the offense fills up the stadium, people enjoy it," he said. "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. 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. 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, let's 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."
McElwain, a native of Montana, played quarterback in the early 1980s at Eastern Washington. He got his coaching start at that school as a graduate assistant and later as an assistant working with the quarterbacks and wide receivers.
He also worked as an assistant at Montana State, Louisville, Michigan State, Fresno State and at Alabama. He also served as the quarterbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders of the NFL in 2006. He was the offensive coordinator/quarterback coach at Alabama in 2009 when Michigan native Mark Ingram won the Heisman Trophy and the Crimson Tide captured two national championships. It was at Alabama where Alford and McElwain first crossed paths.
"During our time together at Alabama, we had an outstanding relationship with Michael and his family," McElwain said. "That's been something I cherish, working hand in hand with Michael, President Davies, and them 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."
McElwain was introduced on Monday as Central Michigan's football coach during a press conference in the John G. Kulhavi Events Center on the CMU campus.
"You hear 'Fire up Chips,' it means something," McElwain said. "That exciting; that's something we're really looking forward to getting behind."
McElwain, the 29th coach in program history, comes to CMU with an outstanding resumé that includes league coach of the year honors in two conferences, the Southeastern (Florida) and the Mountain West (Colorado State), and a reputation for being offensive-minded.
Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Michael Alford introduced McElwain, who spent the 2018 season as an assistant on coach Jim Harbaugh's Michigan staff.
"Why Jim McElwain?" Alford said. "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 … and presents a strong vision of what the program could be."
McElwain, who was named to head the program on Sunday, said he met with the entire team on Sunday and plans to begin meeting with each student-athlete, as well as others involved in the program, on Tuesday.
McElwain said that he has watched video of the 2018 Chippewas, who finished 1-11, and that he sees potential. He said he will spend the next several weeks getting down to the business of what the Chippewas need to be successful, and of hiring his coaching staff.
"We want to find out who wants to be here, we want to find out who's committed to being a Chippewa," McElwain said. "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 make sure they understand this: It's a privilege, and not a right."
He addressed the No. 1 position – and the question on everyone's mind – quarterback. The Chippewas used four quarterbacks in 2018.
"That's something we've got to work on and I can't sit here and say I've looked at it enough to say 'this is exactly what it is,'" he said. "But I know we've got to get production at that spot, we've got to get leadership at that spot for us to move forward as a program."
Nuts and bolts and specific positions aside, McElwain said discipline and respect are staples of his program. In his first meeting with his players, on Sunday, he said he told them "they need to learn how to sit up.
"They need to learn how to focus, they need to learn how to communication non-verbally. I think for them it was an eye-opener. Being a Chippewa, understanding the tradition. 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.
"We've got to get disciplined. We've got to do things that don't hurt ourselves. That's the first thing about being successful on the football field is to understand it's a team game and we've got to really remedy that, and remedy it in a hurry."
Moving the football was the Chippewas' biggest issue in 2018. They ranked near the bottom among Football Bowl Subdivision schools. Meanwhile, the defense was good and, at times, great. Four Chippewas, all of them on defense, earned First Team All-Mid-American Conference honors and CMU was among the very best against the pass in the nation.
"Let's face it, the offense fills up the stadium, people enjoy it," he said. "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. 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. 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, let's 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."
McElwain, a native of Montana, played quarterback in the early 1980s at Eastern Washington. He got his coaching start at that school as a graduate assistant and later as an assistant working with the quarterbacks and wide receivers.
He also worked as an assistant at Montana State, Louisville, Michigan State, Fresno State and at Alabama. He also served as the quarterbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders of the NFL in 2006. He was the offensive coordinator/quarterback coach at Alabama in 2009 when Michigan native Mark Ingram won the Heisman Trophy and the Crimson Tide captured two national championships. It was at Alabama where Alford and McElwain first crossed paths.
"During our time together at Alabama, we had an outstanding relationship with Michael and his family," McElwain said. "That's been something I cherish, working hand in hand with Michael, President Davies, and them 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."
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