Gators hire CSU’s Jim McElwain

Published on Thursday, 12/4/14 at 10:30 a.m. Eastern. 

According to ESPN’s Chris Low, Florida and Colorado St. have reached an agreement on the $7.5 million buyout clause and barring any last-minute snags, Jim McElwain will be announced as UF’s next head coach later today.

McElwain has been a head coach for three seasons at CSU, posting a 22-16 straight-up record, including a 10-2 mark this season. He had a 22-14 against-the-spread record with the Rams.

This is the furthest thing from a sexy hire for Florida, one of the country’s top-five programs. Then again, it’s not Ron Zook, either. McElwain was Nick Saban’s offensive coordinator for four seasons, helping the Crimson Tide  bag a pair of national titles.

Is he ready to be the captain of what Steve Spurrier famously called “this great big battleship we call Gator Football?” Only time will tell.

I’m busy posting hoops picks for tonight and writing previews for the Pac-12 and SEC Championship Games, but I’ll have many more opinions here later today and especially after McElwain’s opening presser, which I imagine will take place early this evening or early tomorrow morning.

For what it’s worth, this hire has been highly endorsed by quite a few notable names, mostly those with Alabama roots. ESPN’s Paul Finebaum and Greg McElroy are among those.

Much more to follow…