Staff Directory
Bailey McElwain
- Title:
- Senior Special Teams Analyst
- Email:
Bailey McElwain completed his second season at UCLA and first as senior special teams analyst for the Bruins' football program in 2025. McElwain previously served UCLA in a similar role in 2022.
Three of McElwain’s special teams performers earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention in his first year leading the unit in 2025: kicker Mateen Bhaghani, punter Will Karoll and long snapper Salem Abdul-Wahab. Bhaghani, who led UCLA in scoring with 146 points, ranked 56th in FBS with a 80.0 percent field goal success rate (16-for-20). From 49 yards in, Bhaghani was 14-for-16 (87.5%). In a 20-17 victory over Maryland, Bhaghani drilled his second career game-winning field goal with 0:02 seconds remaining. Karoll finished third in the Big Ten during the regular season with an average punt 43.5 yards (44 punts, 1,913 yards). He placed 13 of those 44 boots inside the 20 while eight went for 50-plus yards.
The Bruins blocked a pair of field goal attempts in tight moments in 2025. Against Northwestern on Sept. 27, defensive back Rodrick Pleasant blocked a kick that resulted into a touchdown on UCLA’s next drive. True freshman Scott Taylor produced the same result when he batted a field goal attempt against USC on Nov. 29; the Bruins tied the game, 7-7, on the ensuing possession.
McElwain’s represented a return to Westwood for McElwain, who was a special teams analyst for the Bruins in 2022. He had recently been tabbed a rising star in coaching as an off-field member of the 247Sports 30Under30 list and received similar acclaim from Our Coaching Network.
McElwain spent the 2024 season as a special teams quality control coach at Washington, helping the Huskies to a berth in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl. Redshirt freshman Keith Reynolds returned kickoffs at a rate of 21.9 yards per game during the regular season, ranking fifth in the Big Ten. Jack McCallister, meanwhile, averaged 44.0 yards per punt.
As tight ends coach at Northern Arizona in 2023, McElwain helped develop Marcus Phillips Jr. into a red-zone weapon. Phillips finished second on the team with four receiving touchdowns, doubling his previous career output.
Nicholas Barr-Mira had a standout 2022 for UCLA with McElwain on staff, recording the 10th-best scoring season in program history. Barr-Mira's total of 106 points was boosted by four field goals – including the game winner – against South Alabama. He was recognized as Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week and a Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award "Star of the Week" for that performance. Kazmeir Allen, meanwhile, put up 24.6 yards per kickoff return to rank 21st nationally. The Bruins went 9-4, earning a spot in the Sun Bowl.
McElwain made his Big Ten debut as an assistant offensive line coach at Northwestern in 2021. There, he helped Peter Skoronski to first-team All-Big Ten recognition. Skoronski went on to become the Wildcats' first unanimous All-America selection and a first-round draft pick of the NFL's Tennessee Titans.
McElwain was an offensive graduate assistant at UNLV during the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, his first at the FBS level. His collegiate coaching career began one year earlier as a volunteer safeties coach at East Central Community College in Decatur, Miss.
McElwain played one season at Vanderbilt before suffering a career-ending injury. He was the Commodores' lead fullback in 2016, helping them to the Camping World Independence Bowl. McElwain caught six passes for 35 yards and two touchdowns. He would collect his bachelor's degree in general studies at UAB, earning a double minor in psychology and history.
MCELWAIN'S COACHING EXPERIENCE
2019 – Volunteer Safeties Coach, East Central CC
2020 – Graduate Assistant, UNLV
2021 – Assistant Offensive Line Coach, Northwestern
2022 – Analyst (Special Teams), UCLA
2023 – Tight Ends Coach, Northern Arizona
2024 – Quality Control (Special Teams), Washington
2025 – Senior Special Teams Analyst, UCLA
Three of McElwain’s special teams performers earned All-Big Ten Honorable Mention in his first year leading the unit in 2025: kicker Mateen Bhaghani, punter Will Karoll and long snapper Salem Abdul-Wahab. Bhaghani, who led UCLA in scoring with 146 points, ranked 56th in FBS with a 80.0 percent field goal success rate (16-for-20). From 49 yards in, Bhaghani was 14-for-16 (87.5%). In a 20-17 victory over Maryland, Bhaghani drilled his second career game-winning field goal with 0:02 seconds remaining. Karoll finished third in the Big Ten during the regular season with an average punt 43.5 yards (44 punts, 1,913 yards). He placed 13 of those 44 boots inside the 20 while eight went for 50-plus yards.
The Bruins blocked a pair of field goal attempts in tight moments in 2025. Against Northwestern on Sept. 27, defensive back Rodrick Pleasant blocked a kick that resulted into a touchdown on UCLA’s next drive. True freshman Scott Taylor produced the same result when he batted a field goal attempt against USC on Nov. 29; the Bruins tied the game, 7-7, on the ensuing possession.
McElwain’s represented a return to Westwood for McElwain, who was a special teams analyst for the Bruins in 2022. He had recently been tabbed a rising star in coaching as an off-field member of the 247Sports 30Under30 list and received similar acclaim from Our Coaching Network.
McElwain spent the 2024 season as a special teams quality control coach at Washington, helping the Huskies to a berth in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl. Redshirt freshman Keith Reynolds returned kickoffs at a rate of 21.9 yards per game during the regular season, ranking fifth in the Big Ten. Jack McCallister, meanwhile, averaged 44.0 yards per punt.
As tight ends coach at Northern Arizona in 2023, McElwain helped develop Marcus Phillips Jr. into a red-zone weapon. Phillips finished second on the team with four receiving touchdowns, doubling his previous career output.
Nicholas Barr-Mira had a standout 2022 for UCLA with McElwain on staff, recording the 10th-best scoring season in program history. Barr-Mira's total of 106 points was boosted by four field goals – including the game winner – against South Alabama. He was recognized as Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week and a Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award "Star of the Week" for that performance. Kazmeir Allen, meanwhile, put up 24.6 yards per kickoff return to rank 21st nationally. The Bruins went 9-4, earning a spot in the Sun Bowl.
McElwain made his Big Ten debut as an assistant offensive line coach at Northwestern in 2021. There, he helped Peter Skoronski to first-team All-Big Ten recognition. Skoronski went on to become the Wildcats' first unanimous All-America selection and a first-round draft pick of the NFL's Tennessee Titans.
McElwain was an offensive graduate assistant at UNLV during the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, his first at the FBS level. His collegiate coaching career began one year earlier as a volunteer safeties coach at East Central Community College in Decatur, Miss.
McElwain played one season at Vanderbilt before suffering a career-ending injury. He was the Commodores' lead fullback in 2016, helping them to the Camping World Independence Bowl. McElwain caught six passes for 35 yards and two touchdowns. He would collect his bachelor's degree in general studies at UAB, earning a double minor in psychology and history.
MCELWAIN'S COACHING EXPERIENCE
2019 – Volunteer Safeties Coach, East Central CC
2020 – Graduate Assistant, UNLV
2021 – Assistant Offensive Line Coach, Northwestern
2022 – Analyst (Special Teams), UCLA
2023 – Tight Ends Coach, Northern Arizona
2024 – Quality Control (Special Teams), Washington
2025 – Senior Special Teams Analyst, UCLA
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