Central Michigan head coach Jim McElwain — a former Alabama offensive coordinator — is retiring at season’s end after four decades in coaching, the school announced Wednesday.

McElwain, 62, is currently in his sixth season with the Chippewas, who are 4-7 after beating arch-rival Western Michigan 16-14 on Tuesday night. After Central Michigan’s season finale at Northern Illinois on Nov. 30, McElwain will transition into a role as a special assistant to the school’s athletics director.

“My wife Karen and I have cherished every moment of our football journey,” McElwain said. “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.”

McElwain has also been head coach at Colorado State and Florida, compiling a 77-63 overall record in 12 seasons including his time at Central Michigan. He was Alabama’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach under Nick Saban from 2008-11, helping the Crimson Tide to a pair of national championships.

A Montana native, McElwain has also been a position coach at Eastern Washington, Montana State, Louisville, Michigan State and Michigan, in addition to one season as quarterbacks coach of the NFL’s Oakland Raiders. He was Fresno State’s offensive coordinator in 2007 before being hired by Saban at Alabama, where he helped develop quarterbacks such as John Parker Wilson, Greg McElroy and AJ McCarron during his four-year tenure.

Following three seasons as head coach at Colorado State, McElwain replaced Will Muschamp at Florida in 2015. He won SEC East titles in his first two seasons — losing the conference championship games both years to Alabama — before resigning under pressure midway through the 2017 season.

McElwain was wide receivers coach at Michigan in 2018 before landing at Central Michigan the following season. His best season at CMU came in 2019, when the Chippewas went 9-4 and won the MAC East Division title, then ended the season with a victory in the Sun Bowl.