FORT COLLINS — Jim McElwain was introduced today as the new Colorado State football coach at a news conference at the school’s indoor practice facility.

“It’s a great day for Colorado State,” said CSU athletic director Jack Graham. He introduced McElwain, who was joined by his wife, Karen, and their three children on the podium.

“His arrival starts a bold new era for CSU football,” Graham said.

McElwain comes to CSU after being the Alabama offensive coordinator since 2008. He replaces Steve Fairchild, who was 16-33 in four season with CSU. The Rams were 3-9 in each of the past three seasons.

“He is a man of great character and great integrity,” Graham said. “We run a squeaky-clean program here; we don’t cheat.”

Graham said McElwain will go back to Alabama to coach the Tide for their national championship game on Jan. 9 against LSU. Until then, he will recruit this week for CSU before the quiet period starts Dec. 19.

“I look forward to working hand-in-hand with him to push forward what he started,” McElwain said of former coach Sonny Lubick. Both grew up in Montana, and McElwain was a high-school senior when Lubick was head coach at Montana State.

Graham said McElwain has signed a five-year deal, and his yearly base salary will be $1.3 million and another $150,000 in bonuses. None of that bonus money is tied to wins, Graham added.

McElwain said he met with the players before the news conference.

“As the vision goes, we put the calendar together and we need to hit the ground running and get the word out on what our plans and vision are,” he said. “This bold, new era, I’m really excited to lead.”

McElwain also has worked at Fresno State, where he was the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach in 2007. In 2006, he was the quarterbacks coach for the Oakland Raiders. He served as assistant head coach, receivers coach and special teams coach at Michigan State from 2003-05.

Prior to working at Michigan State, McElwain spent three seasons (200-02) at Louisville as the receivers coach and special teams coach.

From 1995-99, McElwain was the offensive coordinator, quarterbacks and receivers coach at Montana State.

“This is a long-term commitment. I’m not looking to bounce,”McElwain said. “Because of this bold new era, we are really excited to be a part of it.”

Asked about his expectations for the 2012 season, McElwain said, “My goal is to win them all.”

McElwain recently had his name mentioned in connection with head coaching positions at both Memphis and Fresno State, but he took his name out of consideration. He’s in his third year as offensive coordinator/quarterback coach for the Crimson Tide, which is playing in the national championship game in January.

Alabama won the national title two years ago, defeating Texas, 37-21, in the title game.

McElwain was an all-state quarterback at Missoula (Montana) Sentinel High School and played quarterback at Eastern Washington from 1980-83. He earned his degree in Education from EWU in 1984.