Tennessee men’s basketball continues to strengthen its coaching staff as veteran coach Steve McClain is reportedly set to join Rick Barnes’ bench as an assistant. The move, first reported by On3’s Joe Tipton, adds a seasoned basketball mind with over four decades of coaching experience to the Vols’ program.
McClain most recently served as an assistant at Texas, where he was part of the Longhorns’ staff from 2022 through 2024 under both Chris Beard and Rodney Terry. His time at Texas came during a transitional period, and his presence brought stability and experience to the program. Now, he brings that same veteran leadership to Tennessee.
This latest addition to the Vols’ coaching staff comes on the heels of another recent hire—former Cal assistant Amorrow Morgan—who replaced Rod Clark after his departure for Florida State. With McClain joining the ranks, Rick Barnes has significantly deepened his bench of basketball minds.
McClain is no stranger to the Southeastern Conference. He served as an assistant coach at Georgia under Tom Crean from 2020 to 2022 and previously worked with Crean at Indiana from 2010 to 2015. His extensive resume also includes assistant coaching stops at Colorado (2007–2010), TCU (1994–1998), and earlier positions at Chadron State, Sioux Empire JC, Independence CC, and Hutchinson CC.
As a head coach, McClain has enjoyed considerable success. He led Hutchinson Community College to a dominant 91–16 record and captured the NJCAA national championship from 1991 to 1994. That success launched him into a head coaching role at Wyoming, where he served from 1998 to 2007. During his tenure with the Cowboys, McClain posted a 157–115 record, earned Mountain West Coach of the Year honors in 2002, and led the team to the second round of the NCAA Tournament that same season. Despite some success, he was let go following the 2006 campaign.
He later went on to become the head coach at the University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC), where he led the Flames from 2015 to 2020, posting a 76–93 record over five seasons.
McClain’s depth of knowledge and coaching pedigree make him a valuable addition to the Vols’ staff, which now includes associate head coach Justin Gainey and assistants Gregg Polinsky, Brian Lentz, Lucas Campbell, and Amorrow Morgan.
Supporting the basketball operations team are Mary Carter-Eggert (Director of Basketball Operations), Garrett Medenwald (Director of Men’s Basketball Sports Performance), and Chad Newman (Athletic Trainer).
Rick Barnes continues to show his commitment to building a staff that blends experience, player development, and recruiting strength. With McClain’s addition, Tennessee’s coaching core is poised to guide the program to greater heights in the ever-competitive SEC landscape.
Fans can discuss the move and more on the Rocky Top Forum and stay updated through VolReport’s platforms, including YouTube and Twitter.
