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McElwain, Florida mutually agree to part ways

Florida head coach Jim McElwain, right, walks the sidelines during a timeout against Georgia, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, in Jacksonville, Fla. Georgia won 42-7.

Credit: John Raoux

Credit: John Raoux

Florida head coach Jim McElwain, right, walks the sidelines during a timeout against Georgia, Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017, in Jacksonville, Fla. Georgia won 42-7.
By Maghen Moore
Oct 29, 2017

The University of Florida announced Sunday that head coach Jim McElwain and the University of Florida Athletic Association mutually agreed to part ways.

Reaction to McElwain's dismissal mixed

“We want to thank Coach McElwain for his efforts in leading the Gator football program,” said Florida Athletic Director Scott Stricklin in a statement. “We are confident Coach Shannon will provide the proper guidance to the players and rest of staff during this time and we will begin a national search for the next head coach.”

McElwain's Gators were routed, 42-7, by the Georgia Bulldogs Saturday in Jacksonville, Fla. During his tenure at Florida, McElwain finished 22-12 and won two consecutive Southeastern Conference Eastern Division titles.

Defensive coordinator and former Miami head coach Randy Shannon will serve as Florida’s interim head coach for the remainder of the Gators season.

Randy Shannon brings 25 years of coaching experience including coaching stints with the University of Miami, Miami Dolphins, TCU and Arkansas. Shannon played for the University of Miami from 1985-88 and had a short NFL career with the Dallas Cowboys.

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