The announcement came from the university on Wednesday. At 62, McElwain's journey included notable tenures at Colorado State and Florida before his current role at Central Michigan.

McElwain will cap his career by coaching the Chippewas, currently holding a 4-7 record, in their final game on November 30 against Northern Illinois. According to CBS Sports, the decision to retire was McElwain’s own. In his six seasons with Central Michigan, he accumulated a record of 33 wins and 35 losses, and led the team to two bowl games.

Expressing his gratitude, McElwain said, "My wife Karen and I have cherished every moment of our football journey. We want to express our deepest gratitude to 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."

Recently, McElwain found himself part of an NCAA investigation due to the supposed presence of ex-Michigan staffer Connor Stalions on the sidelines during the CMU opener against Michigan State last year.

McElwain first gained national recognition in 2007 as Fresno State's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, where the Bulldogs averaged 33 points per game and secured nine victories. This success took him to Alabama the following season in the same role under Nick Saban’s leadership. During his four years with the Crimson Tide, McElwain was part of two national championship-winning teams and mentored players like Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram, Julio Jones, Greg McElroy, and A.J. McCarron.

His achievements at Alabama paved the way for his first head coaching position at Colorado State, where he accumulated a 22-16 record over three seasons. Following his Alabama success, McElwain returned to the SEC, taking the helm at Florida, where he led the Gators to two SEC East titles from 2015 to 2017.

However, McElwain's tenure at Florida ended controversially in 2017 after he publicly claimed there were death threats against him and his players, which could not be substantiated. A subsequent 42-7 defeat to Georgia resulted in his departure from the program. His 34-game tenure at Florida was notably the shortest for a non-interim coach in 80 years.

Heading into his final game, McElwain boasts an overall coaching record of 77-63. In 2022, he signed a five-year contract with Central Michigan, but his remarkable career will now conclude on his terms.