MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — In a recent announcement, Jim McElwain, the head coach of the Central Michigan football team, disclosed that he will step down from his position following the conclusion of the current season, marking six years with the Mid-American Conference (MAC) program.

McElwain, who previously coached at Florida and Colorado State, shared his decision on Wednesday, concluding his time at Central Michigan with a record of 33 wins and 35 losses. Throughout his career, he has earned accolades as coach of the year in three different conferences and boasts an overall coaching record of 77 victories against 63 defeats.

As he wraps up his tenure, McElwain will guide the Chippewas (currently standing at 4-7 and 2-5 in the MAC) in their season finale against Northern Illinois on November 30. Following that game, he is set to transition into a role as a special assistant to the athletic director.

Central Michigan brought McElwain on board in 2018 after he served as the wide receivers coach under Jim Harbaugh at the University of Michigan. He succeeded John Bonamego, who faced a challenging final season, finishing with only one win against eleven losses.

In his inaugural season, McElwain led the team to an 8-6 record, paving the way for their participation in one of two bowl games during his time with the team. Notably, in 2021, he guided the Chippewas to nine victories, culminating with a win in the Sun Bowl. However, over the subsequent three years, the team’s performance declined, averaging more than seven losses each season.

During his time in the Southeastern Conference, McElwain received recognition as coach of the year in 2015 during his debut season at Florida. He concluded his tenure there with a record of 22 wins and 12 losses before agreeing to a buyout.