Steve McClain Joins Rick Barnes’ Staff as Assistant Coach at Tennessee
The Tennessee Volunteers have bolstered their coaching staff with the addition of veteran coach Steve McClain, who will serve as an assistant under head coach Rick Barnes. The move brings a wealth of experience and a strong recruiting background to the Volunteers’ bench as they prepare for the upcoming season.
McClain, 61, has more than three decades of coaching experience at the collegiate level, including head coaching stints at Wyoming and UIC, as well as assistant roles at Indiana, Colorado, and most recently at Georgia. His deep ties to recruiting and player development make him a valuable asset to an already accomplished Tennessee program.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Steve McClain to our coaching staff,” Barnes said in a statement. “He brings a great deal of experience and has a proven track record of helping players improve and teams win. He’s someone I’ve known and respected for many years. His knowledge of the game and ability to connect with student-athletes will be a tremendous benefit to our program.”
During his time at Wyoming (1998–2007), McClain led the Cowboys to a Mountain West Conference championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance. He later revitalized the UIC Flames as head coach and helped build strong recruiting pipelines in the Midwest. McClain also worked under Tom Crean at Indiana, where he was instrumental in the development of NBA talent such as Victor Oladipo and Cody Zeller.
McClain’s addition comes as Tennessee looks to build on recent success under Barnes, including multiple NCAA Tournament appearances and consistent top-tier SEC finishes. Known for a tough, defensive-minded approach and a commitment to developing versatile players, McClain fits seamlessly into Barnes’ coaching philosophy.
“I’m honored to join Coach Barnes and the Tennessee program,” McClain said. “This is one of the premier programs in the country, and I’m excited to get to work with the talented staff and players here. I look forward to helping continue the standard of excellence that’s been established in Knoxville.”
McClain joins a staff that already includes associate head coach Justin Gainey and assistants Gregg Polinsky and Rod Clark. His veteran presence is expected to bring both strategic insight and stability, especially in scouting and in-game adjustments.
With McClain now on board, Tennessee’s staff is set heading into the 2025-26 season, as the Volunteers aim to remain among the elite in college basketball.