Florida Head Coach Search: Latest News and Rumors on Position

The Florida Gators have reportedly found their new head coach in Colorado State coach Jim McElwain.

Continue for updates.

Thursday, Dec. 4

Florida, McElwain Reportedly Reach Agreement

According to ESPN's Brett McMurphy, the deal is done:

McElwain Negotiations Reportedly Hit Snag

According to ESPN's Brett McMurphy, Florida's negotiations with Colorado State head coach Jim McElwain have hit a snag:

"

Colorado State's Jim McElwain wants to be Florida's coach. And the Gators desperately want McElwain as their coach.

There's one huge problem: CSU is not budging on McElwain's $7.5 million buyout, and Florida refuses to pay the entire amount, sources said Wednesday night.

"At this point, any potential deal is on hold until there's some sort of resolution with the buyout issue," a source said.

If Colorado State president Tony Frank doesn't agree to a lower buyout, Florida officials are "pessimistic" the deal will get done, sources said.

Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley and UF administrators flew to Fort Collins on Tuesday under the impression that there were provisions in McElwain's contract that would allow him to leave for a lower buyout.

However, Frank -- the only individual who's allowed to reduce the buyout -- refuses to accept anything less than the $7.5 million amount, sources said.

"

Wednesday, Dec. 3

Florida Moving Closer to Deal With McElwain

Matt L. Stephens of The Coloradoan has an update on the Gators' search process and negotiations with Colorado State coach Jim McElwain:

"

 The University of Florida is in the final stages of securing Jim McElwain as its next football coach.

A source told the Coloradoan Wednesday morning that Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley is "negotiating the buyout, but it's a done deal," adding that McElwain, the coach at CSU, will be heading to Florida, provided the buyout can be negotiated down.

The source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said Florida is trying to reduce the $7.5 million buyout in McElwain's contract to $3 million. There is a clause in the contract that states the Colorado State University president can, but is not obligated to, renegotiate the buyout for an extenuating case or event.

"

Edgar Thompson of the Orlando Sentinel reports that Colorado State isn't budging from their buyout clause for McElwain:

ESPN's Brett McMurphy reported that McElwain isn't headed to Florida quite yet:

"

Colorado State’s Jim McElwain not on UF plane to Gainesville, sources told @ESPN

— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) December 3, 2014"

Despite not traveling to Gainesville, the Football Scoop Staff reports the Colorado State players have been informed of his decision:

Yet Rams QB Garrett Grayson denied the report via his Twitter account:

Chip Kelly Denies Interest

According to Eagles Insider, Chip Kelly denied interest in the Florida job:

On December 1, Marc Farzetta of Sportsradio 94 in Philadelphia reported that the Eagles' head coach would be contacted in regards to the job.

Tuesday, Dec. 2

Gators Reportedly Nearing Deal with Jim McElwain

Yahoo Sports' Pat Forde has the latest on Florida's search:

"

Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley and Colorado State head coach Jim McElwain are in the latter stages of negotiating a deal that would make him the next Gators head football coach, sources tell Yahoo Sports.

Foley and a contingent of Florida administrators met with McElwain for several hours at his home in Fort Collins, Colo., on Tuesday night to hammer out the deal, sources said.

One notable characteristic of the negotiations is McElwain's reported 7.5 million buyout. Sources tell Yahoo that the buyout is in place and will not be significantly negotiated down.

"

Per the buyout, Kelly Lyell of The Coloradoan notes "There's a provision that allows CSU President Tony Frank to reduce or eliminate the fee for "extenuating circumstances," should McElwain voluntarily step down as CSU's football coach before his five-year contract is up."

FOX Sports' Bruce Feldman confirmed Forde's report.

Monday, Dec. 1

Florida Denies Reports Offers Have Been Made to Potential Candidates

Florida released a statement on Twitter in response to a report from Forde:

Team Stream Now: Hugh Freeze or Jim McElwain a Better Fit for Florida?

Sunday, Nov. 30 

Colorado State Coach McElwain Emerging as Leading Candidate for Florida 

Forde reports that the Florida athletic department is looking at Colorado State coach Jim McElwain to become its next head coach: 

"

Colorado State coach Jim McElwain has emerged as a leading candidate for the Florida vacancy, multiple sources told Yahoo Sports Sunday. ...

Information has been gathered on McElwain by Florida officials since the school announced two weeks ago that Will Muschamp would not return as coach, sources said. It is unclear how many other candidates may be involved. Sources said Mississippi coach Hugh Freeze was among those on Florida athletic director Jeremy Foley's radar, but McElwain's name may be at the top of the list.

"

Saturday, Nov. 29

Hugh Freeze Denies Florida Rumors

Hugh Kellenberger of The Clarion-Ledger has the latest on Freeze and Florida. Kellenberger quoted Freeze as stating::

"

It's amazing to me how many things put on the Internet are now believable. I have not heard from any university other than the one I'm fortunate to be the head coach (of). Like I said (last) week, I don't comment on job statuses or anybody's job status, and particularly mine whether it's good or bad.

I'm blessed to be the head football coach at the University of Mississippi -- my home -- and I work for great people in athletics director Ross Bjork and chancellor Dan Jones.

"

Saturday, Nov. 22

Mike Gundy Reportedly Pursuing Job

Ryan Bartow of 247Sports provides information on Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy's reported interest in the Florida position:

"

According to three sources in the coaching community, Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy, the Vegas favorite to land the vacant Florida head coach job, wants the position and through back channels has been letting his interest be known.

"

Kyle Fredrickson of The Oklahoman passed along comments from Gundy:

Dabo Swinney Speaks About Florida 

Aaron Brenner of The Post and Courier provided comments from Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney:

Friday, Nov. 21

Brian Kelly Addresses Interest

Adam Silverstein of OnlyGators.com has the latest on Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly:

"

“I’m going to Florida – in about two weeks to get some sun,” Kelly said earlier this week during the press conference. “I’m getting out of here with this weather. What are you, kidding me? So you can write that down. I’m going to Florida. Write it down now, get it out there get it on the news waves.” Kelly was asked a follow-up question about being a candidate for the job, to which he supplied another super-sarcastic reply. “Oh yeah. I’ve been interested in the Florida job. What else am I up for. Anything else? Can I be up for the Notre Dame job? Because we are 7-3 right now, [and] I’m hoping to hold on to this job.”

 

"

Dabo Swinney Denies Florida Interest

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney is the latest to reject rumors that he wants to move to Florida, according to Connor Tapp of 247Sports:

"

Despite not really being mentioned by anyone as a candidate to replace Will Muschamp at Florida, Dabo Swinney denied on Wednesday that he has any interest in replacing Will Muschamp at Florida.

"The more you sit around and talk about that kind of stuff, the more of a distraction it is," Swinney said. "I love my job. I just signed a long term contract because of that. And this is a place that's special to me. And I've invested a lot here. My focus is 100 percent on winning here."

"

Tuesday, Nov. 18 

Gus Malzahn Denies Interest in Florida Job

Joel A. Erickson of The Birmingham News provided comments from Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn: 

Monday, Nov. 17

Rich Rodriguez, Dan Mullen and Other Big Names Reportedly Not Being Pursued

McMurphy has revealed that two of the biggest names in the sport are not on Florida’s radar:

Florida athletics director Jeremy Foley also spoke about the open position, via Robbie Andreu of The Gainesville Sun:

ESPN's Jake Trotter provided comments from Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops regarding the Florida position:

While a win over the Georgia Bulldogs was impressive earlier this season, losses to Alabama, LSU, Missouri and the Gamecocks have exposed the team’s weaknesses. 

*Stats via ESPN.com.