Colorado State, McElwain agree to extension

Fort Collins, CO (SportsNetwork.com) - Colorado State has extended the contract of head football coach Jim McElwain for three years, the school announced Monday.

McElwain guided the Rams to their first postseason game in five years last season, a berth in the New Mexico Bowl, and posted an 8-6 overall record with a 5-3 mark in the Mountain West Conference in 2013. Colorado State capped its campaign with a thrilling 48-45 come-from-behind win over Washington State in the New Mexico Bowl.

The eight victories were the program's most since 2002.

"Jim McElwain has breathed new life into our football program," said CSU interim athletic director John Morris. "Last season's exhilarating come-from- behind victory in the New Mexico Bowl illustrated all of the positive attributes McElwain and his staff have infused in their student-athletes -- the perseverance to never give up and the unique bond to support one another on every play. That was a moment that all Rams fans are extremely proud of, and it provided a glimpse of where this program is headed."

McElwain, who helped Alabama to a pair of BCS national championships as the Crimson Tide's offensive coordinator prior to his arrival at Colorado State, had three seasons remaining on the initial five-year contract he signed in December of 2011. Under the new agreement, McElwain's base salaries will increase from $1.35 million to $1.5 million per year.

"I'm thankful for the opportunity to be the head football coach at Colorado State University, and I appreciate that [president] Dr. [Anthony] Frank has trusted us, our family, our coaches to take this program and keep growing it," McElwain said. "My family and I sincerely appreciate the way the people of Fort Collins and the state of Colorado, and all of the great Rams fans, have welcomed us and made this home for us."

McElwain went 4-8 in his first season at Colorado State in 2012. The Rams had gone 3-9 in three consecutive years under predecessor Steve Fairchild.