Jim McElwain is out as the head coach of the Florida Gators.
“We want to thank Coach McElwain for his efforts in leading the Gator football program,” said Athletic Director Scott Stricklin. “We are confident Coach Shannon will provide the proper guidance to the players and rest of staff during this time and we will begin a national search for the next head coach.”
Florida has lost three games in a row, dropping to 3-4 on the season, but the loss Saturday wasn’t the reason McElwain will no longer be the head coach.
McElwain has had a strained relationship with Florida’s administration and new Athletic Director Scott Stricklin. The relationship became even terser on Monday when McElwain erroneously reported that he, his family and players had received death threats. McElwain declined to offer any evidence to this claim when asked by reporters and then again refused when meeting with his administration behind closed doors.
Losing football games, which Florida has done plenty of in 2017 is one thing. What McElwain did on Monday was tarnish the brand. It also gave Florida leverage, a reason in their mind to fire McElwain for cause.
McElwain was given an extension in June through 2016. Florida owes McElwain $2.5 million per year through 2022. That’s $12.5 million dollars, and balloons just shy of $13 million when you prorate the rest of this year into it by firing him now. Florida has been negotiating Sunday with McElwain’s agent to find a palatable middle ground for a buyout of his contract. Per a release, McElwain and the UAA are still negotiating terms of that buyout.
McElwain finishes his career at the University of Florida with a 22-12 record and a 16-8 mark in the SEC. He was named the SEC Coach of the Year on 2015. He was the first coach in SEC history to take his team to the SEC Championship game in his first two seasons but was outscored by Alabama in those games 83-31.