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Jim McElwain bio

Buffnik

Buffnik

Real name isn't Nik
Club Member
Junta Member
Since he's the new name being floated as Hawk's replacement and he's not as well-known to people as some of the other candidates, I though people would like to see his bio.

jim-mcelwain-practicejpg-504d0fdba367a4af_large.jpg


Age: 48
Born: Missoula, MT

Coach
2008-present: Alabama, Offensive Coordinator
2007: Fresno State, Offensive Coordinator
2006: Oakland Raiders, QB Coach
2003-2005: Michigan State, Assistant Head Coach, ST Coordinator & WR Coach
2000-2002: Louisville, Special Teams Coordinator & WR Coach
1995-1999: Montana State, Offensive Coordinator
1987-1994: Eastern Washington, QB Coach / WR Coach

Player
1980-1983: Eastern Washington, QB

Alabama went 12-2 his first year, won a national championship his second, and is an undefeated #1 ranked team so far this year. Fresno State went 9-4 with a bowl win over Georgia Tech. The Raiders year was the 2-14 season under Art Shell. At Michigan State, under John L Smith, his teams went 18-18 with 1 bowl loss. At Louisville, also under John L Smith, his teams went 27-11 with 2 C-USA championships.
 
Buffnik said:
If you don't count the 3 years as ST Coordinator at Michigan State.
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I don't count "special teams coordinator" as a coordinator position. Nor do I count "recruiting coordinator" as a coordinator position. There are two coordinator position. Offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator.
 
SnowBuff said:
and another 5 or 6 calling plays at other levels. Sounds good to me. How many years as OC did mac have?
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I have no idea. I do know that he was hired by Bo Schembechler from a Detroit High School, he was then an assistant coach at Michigan for 8 years before Colorado hired him. I had always thought that he was a defensive coach, but he may have been offense.
 
It sounds like a coach that CU could get if Hawk is fired and remember that 'Bama fan giving advice...maybe that 'Bama fan knows something could be up between CU and McElwain. Plus he has those western connections as well. We can find some coaches with California and Texas roots and we are all set.

Plus how do you like that 'Bama running game?

Nebraska has done nicely with a SEC coach...maybe the Buffs need to do the same thing and hire a SEC coordinator.

McELWAIN FOR CU COACH!
 
My favorite choice. (I suppose that might scare others away..oops)
 
Great coaches start somewhere. He's been a coordinater with the best team in the country for a couple of years.

Well, the best aside from Utah.
 
Lt.Col.FrankSlade said:
I have no idea. I do know that he was hired by Bo Schembechler from a Detroit High School, he was then an assistant coach at Michigan for 8 years before Colorado hired him. I had always thought that he was a defensive coach, but he may have been offense.
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Mac was the DC his last 5 years at Michigan.
 
If McElwain is a legitimate possibility, I am definitely on board with that option. No offense to Coach Mac as he has forgotten more about football than I'll ever know, but he has been out of the game for a decade and a half now. I love the guy, and he will always have a special place in Buffs lore, but the game isn't even remotely the same as it was when he hung em up. McElwain would be an AWESOME hire.
 
for me it comes down to ASSISTANT COACHES-

who are his "coaching tree" connections ?

Coach Mac's "coaching tree" connections are vast & I know he would bring a great staff to Boulder.
Who would Jim McElwain bring ? from where ??
 
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InTheBuff said:
for me it comes down to ASSISTANT COACHES-

who are his "coaching tree" connections ?

Coach Mac's "coaching tree" connections are vast & I know he would bring a great staff to Boulder.
Who would Jim McElwain bring ? frome where ??
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+1
 
Someone tell me what is so "awesome" about McElwain, so I can drink some of this kool aid.

He's from Montana. He played QB at a small college. He got his coaching start at Eastern Washington. He then latched on to John L. Smith at Louisville, and followed him to Michigan State. He then left Michigan State to go to the Oakland Raiders, where he got fired after one season. He then went to Fresno where again, he stayed for one season. He then went to Alabama, where he is currently coaching.

Other than the 3 years he's been at Alabama with Nick Saban, there's absolutely nothing about this guy's background that would entice CU (or anyone else) to hire him. I do like his ball control, power running offense.

I would not put him high on my list. Would like to see him do it a bit more, first.
 
Lt.Col.FrankSlade said:
Someone tell me what is so "awesome" about McElwain, so I can drink some of this kool aid.

He's from Montana. He played QB at a small college. He got his coaching start at Eastern Washington. He then latched on to John L. Smith at Louisville, and followed him to Michigan State. He then left Michigan State to go to the Oakland Raiders, where he got fired after one season. He then went to Fresno where again, he stayed for one season. He then went to Alabama, where he is currently coaching.

Other than the 3 years he's been at Alabama with Nick Saban, there's absolutely nothing about this guy's background that would entice CU (or anyone else) to hire him. I do like his ball control, power running offense.

I would not put him high on my list. Would like to see him do it a bit more, first.
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I'm coming around to this side of the argument. Also, what's so great about that Calhoun guy? Is it just that he's a colorado guy?
 
I'm going to be skeptical about every coach. I won't like any coach until results happen. I think this guy, Calhoun, and Mac could be good choices, but we should not limit the search to them either. The reason I'm more for McElwain than Mac or Calhoun is because he has no connection to us. He's not a former coach and he's not a Colorado guy looking to move to the big-time university. That doesn't make him better, but I just don't like going for someone just because it seems right. Search for the best guy, whoever it may be.
 
Rugged said:
I'm going to be skeptical about every coach. I won't like any coach until results happen. I think this guy, Calhoun, and Mac could be good choices, but we should not limit the search to them either. The reason I'm more for McElwain than Mac or Calhoun is because he has no connection to us. He's not a former coach and he's not a Colorado guy looking to move to the big-time university. That doesn't make him better, but I just don't like going for someone just because it seems right. Search for the best guy, whoever it may be.
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+1.
 
If Bohn hires another guy who is in state already (Mac/Calhoun) just so the school doesn't have to pay moving expenses, I'm going be quite upset.
 
Rugged said:
I'm going to be skeptical about every coach. I won't like any coach until results happen. I think this guy, Calhoun, and Mac could be good choices, but we should not limit the search to them either. The reason I'm more for McElwain than Mac or Calhoun is because he has no connection to us. He's not a former coach and he's not a Colorado guy looking to move to the big-time university. That doesn't make him better, but I just don't like going for someone just because it seems right. Search for the best guy, whoever it may be.
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Unfortunately, the last guy we hired had zero connections to Colorado, too.
 
Junction said:
3 more than some other popular candidates.

I can't say I would mind tapping into what Bama has going on, but I'm not ready to buy on the spot, either.
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I agree - and for the record I'm not on the Bienemy or Embree bandwagon. I'd like to see both associated with the football program again - but I don't think either are ready for the position as CU's head coach.
 
BuffaloSoldier76 said:
If Bohn hires another guy who is in state already (Mac/Calhoun) just so the school doesn't have to pay moving expenses, I'm going be quite upset.
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Those have been his best hires.

Hawkins and McConnell-Miller were the products of going national outside the program.
 
Rugged said:
Very unfortunate how he turned out. I don't believe it was because of no connections to Colorado.
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No, I don't either. But I have heard multiple times that Hawkins has commented on how hard the CU job is, and how he was not prepared for all that he had to do at Colorado. I think that is a unique problem for CU, which has to be addressed. CU is a tough job, beyond the football field. The fans are very demanding but very fickle, the University doesn't completely support the football program, the City/State certainly don't support the football program, it isn't the "big dog" in it's own back yard (Broncos) but yet the fans (and to some extent the University) expect it to be.

I think that any coach who has no ties to the football program is going to spend some time saying "wtf is up with that!" when he arrives at CU.
 
^^ That coach should research his job offer before accepting. Know what you are getting yourself into, don't just complain after you get there. That's pussy.
 
Rugged said:
^^ That coach should research his job offer before accepting. Know what you are getting yourself into, don't just complain after you get there. That's pussy.
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Especially since Hawk has screamed far and wide about how hard his job is, the next coach has no excuse not to figure out what hes getting himself into.
 
I know he has seen A River Runs Through It lol. Leash has I know, he probably practices shadow casting when nobody is watching.
 
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