This article originally appeared with The Red & Black on July 13, 2015 and can be found here.

HOOVER, Ala.– It may be a new situation for Jim McElwain, but he’s showing no signs of being lost. The new Florida head coach addressed the press on Monday and wasted little time in getting started. He voiced his pleasure in returning to the Southeastern Conference and coaching the Gators, a team that has eight conference titles and three national titles to its credit. Although he displayed a laidback style in front of the cameras, there is plenty of work ahead for McElwain and his players.

The challenge of rebuilding:

The Florida Gators are coming off two subpar seasons to end the Will Muschamp era that saw the team post an 11-13 record. McElwain is tasked with returning the Gators to national prominence as soon as possible, which will be easier said than done. Luckily, the Florida players have been on board for the changes.

“Our guys have done one heck of a job in the transition,” McElwain said. “They’ve really embraced the new guys coming in. A lot of the things that we tried to implement, they were open arms, and I think did a really good job with it.”

Familiarity will help McElwain as he adjusts to a new school, particularly with offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier. McElwain and Nussmeier were assistant coaches together at Michigan State from 2003 to 2005 and both spent time as Alabama’s offensive coordinator. Nussmeier is fresh off a disappointing one-year stint as Michigan’s offensive coordinator, which leaves many waiting for the 44-year-old to prove himself with the Gators.

McElwain made it clear he doesn’t take win-now demands from the masses to heart. Instead of stressing about the pressures of the job, he turns it as a motivation factor for the coaches and players alike.

“I don’t ever look at it as pressure,” McElwain said. “I look at it as opportunity. I’m confident that we’ve put a good thing together and looking forward to executing it. That’s really what it’s all about.”

Facility upgrades:

The race for the best facilities in football has not eluded Florida, as the school is in the midst of building a $15 million indoor practice facility. While McElwain eluded a timetable for completion, he did make his point clear: the innovations are for the players.

“As I told the people around, don’t worry about our offices,” he said. “It doesn’t matter. It’s about helping [the players]. We’ve got a long ways to go, but it’s good to see that those things are happening.”

McElwain connected the West division’s commitment to state-of-the-art facilities with its run of six straight conference championships. Although it remains to be seen when Florida’s indoor facility will be completed, it’s clear the new head coach feels it can help the Gators close the competitive gap.

A look at the past:

McElwain described himself as “The Head Ball Coach” at Florida, a tribute to former Florida head coach and current South Carolina head coach Steve Spurrier.

He explained his affinity for what Spurrier did with the Gators as a player and a coach.

“I drive by work every day and pass his statue,” McElwain said. “I look forward to someday being able to sit down and pick his brain because he’s one of the true guys offensively that knows how to get it done.”

The influence from fellow SEC coaches isn’t limited to Spurrier. McElwain also pointed towards Alabama head coach Nick Saban, who McElwain worked under for four seasons. The Crimson Tide won a national championship in 2011 with Saban and McElwain on the coaching staff, leaving McElwain with a blueprint for how to win.

McElwain has maintained his relationship with Saban and has picked the four-time national champion’s brain on a number of occasions.

“He’s been a guy that’s always been there [for me],” McElwain said. “He’s been a guy that has answered a lot of questions. To have a guy that you can pick up the phone and get an answer that has that much experience and credibility, man, that’s something special.”