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Wayne McClain is in his fifth year with the Fighting
Illini coaching staff after a legendary prep career
at Peoria Manual High School. He came to Illinois
following an illustrious seven-year career as head
coach at Manual where he led the Rams to
three-straight AA state championships in his first
three years as coach. USA Today named his 1997
squad, led by future Illini Sergio McClain, Marcus
Griffin and Frank Williams, National High School
Champions, and the senior McClain was named National
High School Coach of the Year.
The Rams had records of 32-2, 31-2 and 31-1 in his
first three seasons as head coach, winning state
titles each season. McClain also earned Illinois
Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the Year in
1995, '96 and '97. The Rams won Midstate Six
Conference titles in each of his first five years as
head coach, while Manual also advanced to the Sweet
Sixteen of the AA state tournament in 1998 and 1999.
He began his high school career in 1977, serving as
an assistant basketball coach to the legendary Dick
Van Scyoc for 18 years until being named head coach
in 1995. McClain helped the Rams to the first of
four straight state titles in 1994. His teaching
career includes teaching at the sixth grade level,
teaching high school physical education and as the
Manual High School Dean of Students.
Wayne's son, Sergio, was a player on all four Manual
state championship squads prior to his career at
Illinois, where he helped the Illini to two Big Ten
titles. While at Manual, McClain coached four future
Illini players including Jerry Hester, Marcus
Griffin, his son, Sergio, and Frank Williams.
"Wayne has given us continuity in the program and is
a person who is known and respected throughout the
state of Illinois because of his program at Manual,"
Weber said. "Add to the fact that both his son and
daughter attended the university and it shows he has
great pride in Illinois."
McClain earned a master's degree in physical
education at Illinois State University in 1982 while
teaching at Manual.
McClain has two children. His son, Sergio, competed
four years as a student-athlete on the UI men's
basketball team from 1998-2001 and graduated from
Illinois, and his daughter, Brindeshie, also
graduated from the U of I. |
