After an impressive start to the Jim McElwain era, including two winning seasons and two bowl appearances in the first three years, the Central Michigan Chippewas have cooled off in recent campaigns (13-22 since 2022).
Well, they’ll have a chance at a fresh start, as McElwain will retire upon the conclusion of the 2024 season. Which potential candidates make the most sense in Mount Pleasant?
Replacement Candidates for Jim McElwain at Central Michigan
The Chippewas are 4-7 on the year and will play their season finale on Nov. 30 at the Northern Illinois Huskies. According to the school, McElwain will move into a “special assistant to the athletic director” role within the program following the contest.
“My wife Karen and I have cherished every moment of our football journey,” McElwain said in a statement. “We want to express our deepest gratitude to the all the players who have welcomed us into their lives, and the incredible coaches and support staff at every stop along the way — it has been a true privilege to work alongside all of them. The lifelong friendships that were created mean the world to us.
“We are especially thankful for our time at Central Michigan. Mount Pleasant and the CMU community hold a special place in our hearts, and we look forward to continuing to be a part of this program and this great community. Thank you for the unwavering support and the unforgettable memories.”
CBS Sports first broke the news, stating the decision to retire was McElwain’s. The NCAA is currently investigating the 62-year-old for Connor Stalions’ presence on the sideline during CMU’s game against the Michigan State Spartans last year.
McElwain hangs it up with a 77-63 head coaching record across stops at Colorado State, Florida, and Central Michigan. Under his vision, the Chippewas have won or shared two MAC West crowns.
A national search to find McElwain’s successor is already underway — here are five potential fits for the program.
Mike Uremovich, HC, Butler Bulldogs
What Mike Uremovich has done at Butler may go unnoticed in the national media, but not here. Prior to his arrival in 2022, the Bulldogs hadn’t enjoyed a winning season since 2017. Under his leadership, they’ve gone 7-4, 7-4, and, currently, 9-2.
An Indiana native, Uremovich has strong ties in the Midwest, largely stemming from his three stops at Northern Illinois and multi-season stays with the NC State Wolfpack and Temple Owls.
Deland McCullough, AHC/RBs Coach, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Deland McCullough has been an associate head coach with the Indiana Hoosiers and Notre Dame Fighting Irish — 2025 could be the year he removes the associate label.
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Born in Pittsburgh, Penn., McCullough played college football with the Miami RedHawks before coaching running backs for the past two decades. He knows something about winning at the highest level, receiving a Super Bowl with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020. A stint with Central Michigan would prove he’s more than just an assistant.
Brian Brohm, OC/QBs Coach, Louisville Cardinals
Brian Brohm, the younger brother of Louisville Cardinals head coach Jeff Brohm, was born to be a Midwest coach. He is a Kentucky native, played high school football in Louisville before quarterbacking the Cardinals, coached QBs with the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, and called plays with the Purdue Boilermakers under his brother.
Brohm clearly knows a thing or two about generating offense, particularly through the air, which would be a welcomed change at CMU. At 39 years old, he’ll be able to help rejuvenate a once-competitive MAC program.
Tony Annese, HC, Ferris State Bulldogs
This one may be the most far-fetched, but there’s a non-zero chance the Chippewas will give Tony Annese another call. They interviewed the longtime Ferris State head coach in 2015 but passed.
Now, at 63 years old, Annese’s time to make the DI jump is running out. He’s already taken the Bulldogs to the mountaintop, winning multiple DII national titles. His deep recruiting connections in the state give him a leg up on the competition.
Tim Lester, OC, Iowa Hawkeyes
Multiple generations of MAC fans should recognize Tim Lester’s name. In 1996, he was the conference’s co-Freshman of the Year at Western Michigan. He finished his career with 11,299 passing yards, 87 TDs, and 17 school records.
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Then, he returned to the program as a QBs coach from 2005-06 before taking the head-coaching reigns from 2017-22. In his six years, the Broncos went 37-32 with three bowl appearances and just one losing season (5-7 in his debut campaign). After a year of breathing life into a lifeless Iowa Hawkeyes offense, Lester could be ready for another HC gig.
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