[gatortalk] article

Buyout cleared up, McElwain to Florida

Cody JonesFightinGators.com Staff

Jim McElwain's $7.5 million buyout was an issue in recent days, but that has been cleared up.

Colorado State head coach Jim McElwain is set to be the next coach of the Florida Gators, as Chris Low of ESPN first reported.

“The buyout issues have been resolved, and Florida is expected to announce Jim McElwain as its coach later today,” Low said in a tweet.

Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley and multiple employees of the athletic department flew to Fort Collins on Tuesday afternoon to meet with McElwain, but they returned to Gainesville on Wednesday without a coach. Negotiations over McElwain’s $7.5 million buyout went on for the entire trip to Colorado, and as the group returned to Florida on Wednesday night, it still hadn't been resolved.

Local media in Colorado publicized Foley’s trip to Fort Collins by meeting him at the airport and following him to McElwain’s house. Florida administration and McElwain spent hours meeting at his house on Tuesday night.

On Thursday morning, an agreement on the buyout was reached and McElwain is now cleared to take the Florida job. Official announcement is expected later in the day on Thursday.

McElwain will replace Will Muschamp, who was fired on November 16 following a loss to South Carolina that pushed Florida out of the SEC East race. His time as the Florida head coach officially ended on Saturday with a 24-19 loss at Florida State.

McElwain served as the offensive coordinator at Alabama from 2008-11 and won two national titles in his time with the program. He left to take the job at Colorado State before the 2012 season and started his turnaround in Fort Collins. This season, McElwain led the Rams to a 10-2 record with one of the best passing attacks in the country.

Working with quarterbacks and receivers through most of his coaching career, McElwain brings expertise to the two positions where the Gators need it the most.

Expect an official announcement from Florida later this afternoon.