Florida is reportedly discussing firing head coach Jim McElwain with cause

Earlier this week, the third-year coach claimed he’s had death threats against him and his players, then declined to elaborate.

The Florida Gators are currently losing to the Georgia Bulldogs 42-0 in Jacksonville, and Gator head coach Jim McElwain’s future in Gainesville might be in jeopardy. On Saturday evening as the game was ending, ESPN’s Ed Aschoff reported that Florida is considering firing McElwain with cause, due to his claims of death threats earlier this week:

After failing to find any evidence to substantiate claims made by McElwain this week that family and players received death threats, Florida administrators have worked to see if McElwain's allegations were enough to relieve the university from paying McElwain's full buyout of $12.9 million if he were to be fired.

Sources told ESPN that they believe the university has enough cause to fire McElwain without having to pay his buyout. Sources also said that if McElwain were to be relieved of his duties, defensive coordinator Randy Shannon would be asked to be the team's interim coach.

Tampa Bay Times Florida reporter Matt Baker responded to Aschoff’s report with additional reporting:

Earlier in the day, a sports agent reported Florida had already begun discussing a buyout, which UF AD Scott Stricklin publicly denied.

On Monday, McElwain said that he and some of his players have received death threats:

I think it’s a pretty good kind of lesson for the way things are. There’s a lot of hate in this world and a lot of anger. And yet, it’s freedom to show it. The hard part is, obviously, when the threat’s against your own players, death threats to your families, you know, the ill will that’s brought upon out there. And yet, you know, I think it’s really one of those deals that really is a pretty good testament to what’s going on out there nationally. A lot of angry people. In this business, we’re the ones that you take the shots at. And that’s the way it is.

McElwain declined to elaborate further.

Hours later, Florida released a statement saying that the Gators said the coach “offered no additional details” about threats facing him, his family, or other Gators.

A few potentially relevant portions of McElwain’s contract [emphasis added]:

The Coach, at all times during the Term, shall comply with Laws, University Regulations, and Governing Athletic Rules and shall exercise due care that all persons (including without limitation student athletes and coaches) subject to the Coach’s supervision, control and/or authority shall also so comply. For the purpose of this Agreement and the Activities Agreement, any material, substantial, and/or repetitive failure of Coach to exercise such due care or to so comply…shall be a material violation of this Agreement.

And on the subject of firing with cause:

…the Coach’s fraud and/or dishonesty in any other context, whenever occurring and whether or not relating to the Coach’s employment, that may adversely reflect on and/or affect the reputation, mission and/or interests of the University and/or the Association

... whether or not relating to the Coach’s employment, during the period of the Coach’s employment by the Association, any failure by the Coach to report promptly to the Athletic Director any violation of Laws, Governing Rules and/or University Regulations by any person…where the violation is know ton the Coach

When asked on Wednesday about the death threats, here’s what he had to say:

“I think one of the things for those who know me and people that realize I’m a real passionate guy, there’s obviously letting, exactly what I tell our people not to do, is allow one or two misguided remarks get to you,” McElwain said via SEC Country. “The care I have and the passion for these players, this university and the fact that we have an unbelievable fan base. It’s great. There’s passion. When you go into that Swamp it’s something special and our guys feel it. Yeah, I do, I feel bad for sometimes being open and being honest. And yet at the time same time, you know, I’ve seen this movie, I understand it and if it gets to a point then we’ll go from there.”

McElwain led Florida to back-to-back SEC East titles in 2015 and 2016, and he is 22-11 during his short career in Gainesville. We will update this story with any additional information.