Colorado State tabs Jim McElwain as head coach

Dec 13, 2011 - 9:41 PM Fort Collins, CO (Sports Network) - Colorado State named Alabama offensive coordinator Jim McElwain as its new head football coach on Tuesday.

McElwain replaces Steve Fairchild, who was fired December 4th after going 16-33 in four seasons with the Rams.

"In Jim McElwain, we have a coach who has throughout his career demonstrated the level of excellence we're aiming for at Colorado State, and we're confident he's the right man to lead us to a bold new era for Rams football," said athletic director Jack Graham. "Not only has Jim excelled at the very highest levels in college football, but he's spent time in the NFL, he's been part of rebuilding programs and he's a native Westerner. He really is the right coach at the right time."

McElwain also had coaching stints at Fresno State, Michigan State, Louisville, Eastern Washington and the NFL's Oakland Raiders.