Central Michigan coaching job profile: Pluses, minuses and candidates to replace Jim McElwain

The Central Michigan job is open. Head coach Jim McElwain announced he will retire at the end of the season, coming off a win against rival Western Michigan last week.

McElwain is 33-35 in six seasons leading the Chippewas. They reached the MAC championship game in his first season in 2019 and posted a 9-4 season in 2021 capped by a Sun Bowl win against Washington State, but CMU is in the midst of a third consecutive losing season.

So how good is the Central Michigan job? What names could get in the mix? Based on conversations with industry sources, here is a report card for the job and the potential candidates to watch.

Recent history/tradition: C+

CMU has historically been one of the better teams in the MAC, winning the conference three times from 2006 to ’09 and reaching 11 bowls in 16 years from 2006 to ’21. Brian Kelly and Butch Jones both parlayed successful runs with the Chips into the Cincinnati job. But there have been just two winning seasons in the last seven years. McElwain found some success but never consistency.

On-field outlook: D+

The roster is in desperate need of playmakers. CMU doesn’t have a top-15 passer or receiver in the MAC, and leading rusher Marion Lukes is a senior. The defense has some bright spots in junior linebacker Jordan Kwiatkowski and defensive lineman Jason Williams. For what it’s worth, CMU ranks seventh in the conference per 247Sports’ Team Talent Composite ratings, which are based on high school recruiting rankings.

Money matters: C

McElwain’s $1 million salary was near the top of the MAC but may not be enough to hire a Power 4 coordinator. CMU was fourth in the MAC in football spending in 2022, according to Sportico’s most recent numbers. The $22 million Chippewa Champions Center, an end zone facility with new meeting rooms, locker rooms, a weight room and more, opened in 2020. CMU also has an indoor practice field, making this altogether one of the better setups in the MAC.

University stability: C+

The school just got a new president in Neil MacKinnon, and athletic director Amy Folan has been there since 2020 after nearly two decades at Texas. School support for football has generally been strong. But the school is also dealing with its potential role in the Connor Stalions sign-stealing scandal at Michigan. The NCAA investigation is ongoing, but ESPN confirmed the NCAA believes Stalions was on the CMU sideline for a game against Michigan State in 2023. McElwain has said he knew nothing about it, but CMU quarterbacks coach Jake Kostner, who is close with Stalions, resigned earlier this season. It’s unclear what potential penalties CMU could face and how McElwain’s retirement could impact that.

Coach pool: C-

Notre Dame quarterbacks coach Gino Guidugli coached at CMU from 2010 to ’16. The former Cincinnati offensive coordinator is expected to get Power 4 offensive coordinator looks in this cycle and has done a good job with Riley Leonard at Notre Dame this season.

Kansas co-offensive coordinator Jim Zebrowski spent 2017 to 2020 in the MAC at Buffalo, and he has developed quarterbacks like Tyree Jackson, Jason Bean and Jalon Daniels. Zebrowski has head coaching experience at Division III Lakeland, going 28-12 in four seasons and reaching the playoffs for the first time in program history.

Illinois defensive backs coach Corey Parker is a Detroit native who previously coached at Toledo and played at Eastern Michigan. He helped develop cornerback Quinyon Mitchell into a two-time All-American and first-round NFL Draft pick. He was a Michigan high school coach from 2006 to ’21 and was a regional director in the Michigan High School Coaches Association. This year, he has played a big role in Illinois’ 8-3 start.

Ole Miss wide receivers coach George McDonald is an Indiana native and has MAC experience at Northern Illinois and Western Michigan, where he coached Greg Jennings. McDonald spent the previous three years at Illinois and works with an Ole Miss offense that sits fourth nationally in scoring.

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni is a CMU alum who coached with the Chips from 2007 to ’09. He recruited Antonio Brown and Eric Fisher to the school during a dominant period under Jones. He has also coached at Florida, Tennessee and Wisconsin and has been in the NFL since 2017. His receivers have played a big role in the Steelers’ 8-3 start this season.

Houston offensive coordinator Kevin Barbay was a CMU assistant from 2019 to ’21, including as offensive coordinator during the nine-win 2021 season. He has since been the offensive coordinator at Appalachian State, Mississippi State and Houston.

Wisconsin outside linebackers coach Matt Mitchell was the head coach at Division II Grand Valley State in Michigan from 2010 to ’22, with four top-five finishes. He has spent the last two years in Madison.

Butler head coach Mike Uremovich is 18-8 in three seasons at the Indiana FCS program, including 9-2 this year. He previously coached at Northern Illinois for seven seasons over three stints, so he has MAC experience. The Indiana native has spent almost his entire career in the Midwest.

Michigan defensive line coach Lou Esposito has coached in the state since 2010, including seven years as a Western Michigan assistant. Despite the Wolverines’ struggles this year, Esposito’s defensive line has been a strong point, ranking 21st in yards per carry allowed. Esposito has also coached at Division II Ferris State, and he went 6-5 as NAIA Davenport’s head coach in 2016.

Iowa special teams coordinator LeVar Woods has done a good job with the Hawkeyes, where he played and has spent his entire coaching career, a member of Kirk Ferentz’s staff since 2008. Punter Tory Taylor was one of the best in NCAA history, and people around Iowa believe Woods could be ready to take on a bigger job.

Stony Brook head coach Billy Cosh inherited an 0-10 program this year and has the Seawolves at 8-4 and ranked in the FCS top 25. Cosh was previously the offensive coordinator at Western Michigan and Richmond.

Minnesota co-offensive coordinator Greg Harbaugh (no relation to Jim) is a Western Michigan alum and former coach there. He’s been with the Gophers since 2022 and was promoted to co-OC the next year, and the Gophers are going to a third consecutive bowl game.

Overall grade: C

The expectations are rightfully high in Mt. Pleasant. The facility setup and pay is pretty good relative to the MAC, too. But the roster needs an overhaul, and the big success of the somewhat recent past is getting further away.

(Photo: Rey Del Rio / Getty Images)