Former Florida coach Jim McElwain joins Jim Harbaugh's staff at Michigan

Former Florida coach Jim McElwain is joining Jim Harbaugh's coaching staff at Michigan, where he'll coach wide receivers.

"I am excited to work with this offensive staff and Coach Harbaugh," McElwain said in a statement Tuesday. "There are a lot of great offensive minds in that coaching room and I look forward to learning from them."

The move was reported several days ago by various outlets including Fox Sports and Sports Illustrated. McElwain joins the Wolverines staff as the program's 10th assistant coach.

He'll join an offensive staff that includes offensive coordinator Tim Drevno and passing game coordinator Pep Hamilton.

McElwain spent two-plus seasons at Florida where he led the Gators to a 22-16 overall record including back-to-back SEC East titles in 2015 and 2016.

However, a disappointing 3-4 start in 2017, coupled with off-the-field issues including reported clashes with the administration, led to his parting ways with the school on Oct. 29.

Prior to his time at Florida, he spent three seasons as coach at Colorado State where he helped transform the Rams into one of the most explosives offenses in the Mountain West.

Part of the program's breakout season in 2014 can be credited to wide receiver Rashard Higgins, who was a Biletnikoff Award finalist after leading the country with 149.1 yards receiving per game average.

McElwain spent three seasons as the offensive coordinator at Alabama from 2008-11 where he was a part of two national championship teams (2009, 2011) while along the way working with receiver Julio Jones.

He was the wide receivers coach at Michigan State (2003-05) and Louisville (2000-02), where he saw a young receiver named Deion Branch amass back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.

Michigan's top receiver last season was junior Grant Perry, who had just 307 yards on 25 receptions. The Wolverines last 1,000-yard receiver was Jeremy Gallon in 2013.

The Gators never had a 1,000-yard receiver under McElwain but oft-troubled Antonio Calloway set the single-season record for receiving yards by a freshman in 2015.