Jim McElwain lives in a barn
If this isn't the most CMU thing ever I don't know what is - as an alum I kinda like it!
MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. -- Jim McElwain lives in a barn and works in a trailer. The new digs at Central Michigan suit him just fine.
We'll circle back to the trailer in a bit. McElwain isn't the first major college coach, in the age of constant facilities enhancements, to be relocated to temporary office space. The barn, though, might be a first.
The idea was hatched in December, during a party at athletic director Michael Alford's house shortly after McElwain's hiring. Many of CMU's top donors attended, including Chuck McGuirk, a third-generation business owner whose family has supported the athletic program for decades (CMU plays basketball at McGuirk Arena). McGuirk asked Jim and Karen McElwain where they planned to live.
"We'd like to live in a barn," they told him.
The McElwains knew from previous head-coaching stops at Florida and Colorado State that they'd need space to host large groups: recruits, players and staff, or donors. (There's a pretty cool story behind what happened with their home in Florida.) The problem: Mount Pleasant isn't filled with sprawling properties.
Fortunately, McGuirk had a solution: a 6,000-square-foot barn a few miles from Kelly/Shorts Stadium and CMU's campus. McGuirk bought the barn about five years ago and thought about building living quarters on the lower floor. The McElwains soon visited and made the call: This was the spot.
"It has a whole house inside a building," McGuirk said. "This was unlike anything else we've had around here. It's very unique. I had the same vision as they did, so it all started from there. We built it out for them to have recruiting abilities that really no one else has."
Credit: ESPN.COM, Adam Rittenberg, 5/22/2019
That's weird...sharks don't live in barns.
The shark tank can't fit in a house, but in a barn.......
He is going to run a camp for sharks about to be rapped.
Interesting. I pictured more of an aquarium.
I've seen some really cool pics of barns converted to living spaces.
Exactly I’ll bet it’s a damn nice place with a huge area for hosting parties
Yep. I'm not a farm-type guy, but I think it would be cool to live in a converted barn. I've had aspirations to remodel barns, factories, department stores, churches, etc. into living spaces.
I've often thought they could turn old shopping malls into some pretty sweet condo developments, especially in the north with all that indoor open space.
Indeed. Just ask Chip and Joanna Gaines.
Edit: Oops, this was supposed to be in response to BlueWolverine02
I think I like this guy!
How do you have this article and have zero pictures. It actually sounds pretty interesting.
Also nice that someone in the AD was smart enough this time to tell the head coach "maybe you should live in Mt. Pleasant instead of Midland" and actually have the head coach listen.
Hadn't heard of this. Who lived in Midland?
Couldn't find any pictures of the barn house..but yeah converted barns can be cool as hell although I wouldn't want to pay the utilities
Mt Pleasant is a crap dive, especially if they did not have the Soaring Eagle Casino. Midland is one of the wealthiest cities/counties in Michigan - its very nice and safe.
I see the 'support your team/work environment' aspect - but man, Midland vs. Mt Pleasant - fuck that.
Then again, McElwain will probably spend half his time at Wayside Central hammering the fresh meat from the towers.
Midland isn't that nice. And Mt Pleasant isn't that bad.
But the McGuirks are slumlords.
My cousin has talked extensively about a steel building house as his next. 6000 SQ ft steel building with 3 bedroom house inside.
A steel building....are you talking pole barn steel building? My wife's face would make a great meme if I told her we were doing that
It's amazing how nice you can build them these days.
I pretty much moved into The Wayside during my visits there.
Do they still have "Oldies Night" on Sundays at The Wayside?
My sister used to manage the Wayside back in the 80's. My first furniture, after leaving the Navy, was from that place. The old 2x4 built couch, chair, and table. Not comfortable, but at the time I just didn't care. Holy Christ that stuff was heavy!
Barndaminium. Got a good friend that built a barn type home that on one half houses his 5th wheel and the other half is living quarters. It's pretty nice.
How can they not have a single picture of the barn in that entire article
Do you think when he was growing up and left the back door open his mom said, "do you live in a barn?"
When someone tells him, "Hey, your barn door's open," I wonder if he knows to check his zipper.
hey now, what is up with all the barn-hate? i never liked any of you....
#moobaacluckforlife
Plenty of farmland available for Tomato and Kahlua plants.
This is cool stuff... imagine the booming ceiling, too... +100 to McElwain.
Proud Chip Alum here! I used to bounce and work the door at Nicks back in the day.
Since Nicks is RIP....I wonder if Coach McElwain has been to the Wayside yet....or the Pub downtown.
The McGuirks are worth close to a billion, so that " barn" is probably nicer than most homes in Rochester Hills