McElwain Lands In Gainesville and Gets to Work; Press Conference on Saturday
Saturday, December 6, 2014 | Football, Scott Carter
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Jim McElwain and his family arrived here late Friday afternoon from their home in Fort Collins, Colo.
They will have a new home soon. McElwain will be introduced to fans and media as Florida's new football coach during a press conference at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday morning at 11.
He was greeted by UF cheerleaders, Albert and Alberta, and several fans as he departed the plane and walked toward a car waiting to take him to his new office.
After three seasons as head coach at Colorado State, McElwain came to terms Thursday to become the 25th head coach in Gators history.
After several days of pondering his future, McElwain was antsy to get back to work. He had a meeting scheduled for Friday night to discuss the Gators' latest recruiting board.
GatorZone.com had an opportunity to ask McElwain a few questions on the ride from the airport to his office to give fans a little more insight into the native of Missoula, Mont. He was Alabama's offensive coordinator from 2008-11 and in his final season with the Crimson Tide made a trip to The Swamp.
Q: Was that Florida-Alabama game in 2011 the last time you have been to Gainesville?
A: It was some time around then. I've been up here quite a bit when I recruited at Louisville and Michigan State. My area, I had from Crystal River basically across to Daytona Beach, down to Vero Beach, and then across to Naples. Although when I was in Michigan, I didn't mind getting on a plane and coming down here in winter recruiting.
Q: What was your perception of the Florida program before this opportunity came along?
A: Even as a kid growing up, it's one of the greatest brands in all of college athletics. And then when I was able to get down here and recruit for all those years, the one thing was 'when that Gator wanted, the Gator got.' It was something else, and then obviously the run that they've had with some of the coaches and guys in the program. It's as good as there is.
Q: What has the last 24 hours been like for you since officially taking the job?
A: Well, you immediately start calling and talking to coaches and former contacts and relationships from down here. You talk to a lot of people obviously about the recruiting board and that kind of stuff. So that's really been the biggest thing, trying to set a direction that way.
Q: Who would you say is the greatest influence on where you are today?
A: That would be my dad, no doubt about it. He was an old ballcoach and administrator and official. He got his first job in 1946, or '48, was head football, head basketball, head track and head of the math department at Big Timber High School in Big Timber, Mont., home of the Sheepherders. I followed him around as a kid and it didn't matter what sport it was, I was at it. I think I was about 9 when I got the key to the gym so I could go play basketball any day I wanted. He's the one that I probably do this for.
Q: You played quarterback at Eastern Washington. Do you have a most memorable moment?
A: Most of them, as good as I was, was from the bench. No, we had some fun ones. Being at a place like Eastern Washington for almost 15 years as a player and a coach and an administrator and a teacher at the college, it's one of those places where you kind of learn to wear a whole bunch of hats and do whatever it takes to be successful. I was just grateful for my time there.
Q: Do you have a motto or mantra that you will get across to the players when you meet with them?
A: It's about affecting the people around you in a positive way in everything that you do. Really, it's work hard and be complete in everything that you do, and at the end of the day you've got an opportunity to be pretty successful.
