Former HCC coach joins Tennessee staff
May 16, 2025
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – University of Tennessee head men's basketball coach Rick Barnes announced the hiring of Steve McClain as an assistant coach on May 6.
From 1991-94, McClain was the head coach at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas. He led the program to a dazzling 91-16 (.850) record, including a 27-9 ledger in KJCCC league play, with 27-plus victories and an NJCAA Tournament bid each year. He concluded his tenure by guiding the Blue Dragons to a 35-4 record and a national championship. The team averaged 90 points per game and McClain won NJCAA and NABC-Kodak National Coach of the Year.
Preceding his run as head coach, McClain was an assistant at Hutchinson for five years, 1986-91, a tenure during which he claimed his first national title. The Blue Dragons won the NJCAA crown in 1987-88.
"Steve is a veteran coach who has accomplished so much over four-plus decades. It was an easy decision to seize the chance to hire him here at Tennessee and we're happy to have him," Barnes said. "His experience, coaching acumen and care for his players will be invaluable. I am confident Steve will give his all for Tennessee on a daily basis and that our program will benefit from his passion."
Most recently, McClain worked at the University of Texas the past three seasons, 2022-25, the first as special assistant to the head coach and the latter two as an assistant coach. The Longhorns amassed a 69-38 (.645) record and made the NCAA Tournament each year, including advancing to the Elite Eight in 2022-23.
During that same 2022-23 campaign, McClain aided the Longhorns to the Big 12 Tournament title and a No. 5 finish in the AP Poll to tie the program record. Texas won 10 games over AP top-25 foes, a program best, and finished 29-9 overall, good for its third-most victories ever. He helped tutor Marcus Carr to First Team All-Big 12 honors, the first such nod for a Longhorn in seven years, while Sir'Jabari Rice claimed Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year plaudits.
"I want to thank coach Barnes for the opportunity to join such a fantastic basketball program," McClain said. "I am so excited for the chance to work for a Hall of Famer and can't wait to be alongside the excellent staff already in place. Tennessee is one of the premier athletic departments in the country and it's truly an honor to be a Volunteer."
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