The search for Florida’s next head coach may be wrapping up rather quickly. A push to hire Colorado State head coach Jim McElwain could be working, as multiple reports Tuesday night suggest. McElwain may be introduced as Florida’s next head coach as early as Wednesday.
Florida Athletics Director Jeremy Foley flew to Fort Collins, Colorado with a handful of administrators to meet with McElwain on Tuesday. The meetings went on for hours and it is believed the details of a contract and addressing McElwain’s buyout from his Colorado State contract were being discussed. Pat Forde of Yahoo reports the $7.5 million buyout from Colorado State will not be significantly reduced. The buyout is not as solid as it has previously been thought, with the president of Colorado State leaving the door open for a reduction under certain circumstances according to a report from The Coloradoan.UF AD Jeremy Foley at the home of CSU Rams head coach Jim McElwain presumably discussing #Gators job @TFrei #Gators pic.twitter.com/tLc6IjXKSP
— John Leyba (@Presto89) December 3, 2014
McElwain is 22-16 in his three seasons at Colorado State after leaving Alabama as an assistant coach. Under McElwain, Colorado State has improved each season by improving from three wins the year before McElwain was hired, to four wins his first year, eight wins and a bowl victory in 2013 and a 10-win season this fall. McElwian has proven capable of building a winner in a short period of time at Colorado State, which is why he is among the attractive coaching candidates on the market this year. Given his coaching mentality and philosophy as a branch off the Nick Saban coaching tree, it would seem he would be a good fit at Florida.