McElwain brings high potential to Alabama’s OC job

By Robert Rousseau  |   Wednesday, May 21, 2008  |  Comments( 0 )

Alabama Crimson Tide
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So far, Alabama's new offensive coordinator, Jim McElwain, has received glowing reviews from his players since taking the job earlier in the offseason.

“He (Jim McElwain) does things different than what we're used to," quarterback John Parker Wilson told The Birmingham News. "Getting involved, yelling a little more, getting in guys' faces, being a hard-nosed coach."

"I like him a lot," center Antoine Caldwell said. "Coach Mac is intense, but he also slides a little joke in every now and again. He loosens things up. I can tell the guy's a winner."

Early praise aside, just who is the Crimson Tide's offensive play caller and quarterbacks coach?

Well, McElwain actually played QB for Eastern Washington from 1980-83, something that has allowed him to understand the position a little bit more than most coaches. Speaking of his coaching career, it is with the club he played for with which he got his start with on the sideline, serving as its quarterbacks and receivers coach from 1987-94.

In 1995, McElwain took over as offensive coordinator at Montana, where he coached quarterback Rob Compson (who threw for nearly 7,000 yards during his career) and the leading receiver in school history, Chip Hobbs.

In 2000, McElwain's success at Montana netted him his first taste of big-time college football as Louisville’s wide receivers and special teams coach. He did so well there that he eventually secured jobs as Michigan State’s assistant head coach (2003-05) and the Oakland Raiders' quarterbacks coach (2006).

McElwain was Fresno State’s offensive coordinator last season, helping the club improve its record from 4-8 to 9-4 while compelling the offense to gain over 80 yards and nearly 10 points more per game than it did in 2006.

But perhaps the best news for Tide fans is that McElwain seems to understand the legacy surrounding the Alabama program, which is likely a lot more important than many may think.

"Oh, it hits you when you're driving down Bryant Drive," said McElwain. "You think about all the great coaches, the players who have been here ... it's just an overwhelming experience."

McElwain is already showing his quarterback aptitude by lessening the amount of field that Wilson has to scan in determining whom he’s going to throw to. That should allow Wilson to play more freely, something that ought to serve him well.

Besides, head coach Nick Saban knows how to hire assistants. Except McElwain to be a good one for the Tide.
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About Robert Rousseau

Robert Rousseau is a sports writer that has been published in a variety of print and online venues. He’s been writing for RealFootball365.com for almost three years now. When Rousseau isn’t writing about college football he tends to be penning mixed martial arts pieces for MMAFighting.com or ...
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