The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Men's Basketball
- Title:
- Special Assistant to the Head Coach
- Phone:
- 512-471-5816
Third Season at Texas
A former head coach at the University of Wyoming and the University of Illinois at Chicago for a combined 14 seasons, Steve McClain is in his second season as Assistant Coach at The University of Texas and his third year on the Texas staff. McClain, who has 42 years of coaching experience, served in the role of Special Assistant to the Head Coach in the 2022-23 season.
In his first two seasons in Austin, McClain has helped the Longhorns post a 50-22 (.694) overall record. Texas has made two NCAA Tournament appearances (2023 Elite Eight and 2024 Round of 32) and claimed the 2023 Big 12 Tournament title.
During the 2023-24 season, Texas posted a 21-13 overall record and advanced to the NCAA Tournament Round of 32. With its victory over Colorado State in the NCAA Round of 64, the Longhorns won their NCAA First Round game for the third consecutive season. This marked the first time Texas has accomplished the feat since UT won four-straight NCAA First-Round games from 2006-09.
UT finished at No. 25 in the final KenPom team rankings, recorded five Quad 1 wins and earned three victories against AP-ranked opponents, including a 75-73 home win over No. 9 Baylor, a 75-60 victory at No. 11 Oklahoma and a 77-66 win at No. 25 TCU. The Longhorns were one of 11 teams to rank in the top 31 in KenPom in both adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency.
Dylan Disu was named the Big 12’s Most Improved Player, becoming the first Texas player to claim the honor since it began during the 2019-20 season, and earned first-team All-Big 12 mention from the coaches. Max Abmas garnered a spot on the first-team All-Big 12 team from the media and the five-person Big 12 All-Newcomer Team. In addition, Abmas was named the College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Division I Men’s Basketball Team Member of the Year, while Disu was named the Big 12 Men’s Basketball Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
In McClain’s first year in Austin, Texas completed the 2022-23 season with an overall record of 29-9 (12-6 Big 12, second) and ranked No. 5 in the final Associated Press poll. The No. 5 spot marked a tie for the highest ranking in the final AP poll by the Longhorns. UT also was No. 5 in the final AP poll during the 2002-03 Final Four season. The Longhorns advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time since 2008 and eighth time in program history. Texas captured its second Phillips 66 Big 12 Championship title in program history, defeating No. 3 Kansas, 76-56, in the championship game in Kansas City, Mo.
The 29 wins were the third-most in a single season in program history, as UT went 31-7 in 2007-08 and 30-7 in 2005-06. The Longhorns compiled a 10-7 record against AP Top 25 opponents in 2022-23. This set a school single-season record for most wins in a year against AP-ranked teams, as UT previously went 8-5 in 2003-04. Texas posted a 6-3 mark against AP Top 11 foes during the 2022-23 season and tied a program single-season record for most games played (38).
The Longhorns were one of three teams to rank in the top 15 in KenPom in both adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency. Texas (15 offense, 13 defense) was joined by UConn (3 offense, 7 defense) and Houston (11 offense, 5 defense). Since the Big 12 moved to an 18-game round-robin schedule starting in the 2011-12 season, Texas reached the 12-win mark for the first time in league play (12-6 record). Seventeen of UT’s 29 victories this season were by at least 10 points.
Marcus Carr claimed first-team All-Big 12 honors, becoming the first UT player to receive first-team All-Big 12 accolades since Isaiah Taylor in 2015-16. Sir’Jabari Rice was tabbed the National Sixth Man of the Year by College Hoops Today (Jon Rothstein) in addition to earning the league’s Sixth Man Award. Rice also was named a third-team All-Big 12 and Big 12 All-Newcomer Team selection. In addition, Timmy Allen was selected as an honorable mention All-Big 12 pick.
In his 14 seasons overall as a NCAA Division I head coach, McClain compiled a 233-208 (.528) record. Prior to coming to Austin, McClain worked as an assistant coach under Tom Crean at the University of Georgia for the previous two seasons (2020-22). During his first year in Athens (2020-21), the Bulldogs posted a 14-12 record (7-11 Southeastern Conference).
McClain spent five seasons as the head coach of the University of Illinois at Chicago from 2010-15. In those five years, the Flames registered a 76-93 record and made two appearances in the College Basketball Invitational (CBI), advancing to the CBI semifinals in 2017 and finishing as CBI runners-up in 2018. The Flames won 16 or more games in each of McClain’s last four years, marking just the second time to accomplish the feat in the program’s 73-year history. UIC also advanced to the title game of the 2020 Horizon League Tournament, the first time the school had reached the league’s championship game since 2004.
Under McClain’s leadership, UIC set team season records for points (2,749 in 2016-17), three-point field goals made (303 in 2018-19), rebounds (1,426 in 2016-17), assists (524 in 2016-17) and blocked shots (242 in 2017-18). Dikembe Dixson was named Horizon League Freshman of the Year in 2016, while Tai Odiase earned Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year accolades in both 2017 and 2018. Godwin Boahen claimed Horizon League Sixth Man of the Year honors in 2018, and Tarkus Ferguson was tabbed Horizon League All-Freshman Team in 2017 and earned spots on the All-Horizon League team in 2019 and 2020.
McClain spent five seasons (2010-15) under Crean at Indiana University, serving as an assistant coach for two years (2010-12) before working as an associate head coach for his final three seasons (2012-15). During McClain’s time in Bloomington, the Hoosiers registered a 105-75 overall record, won the outright Big Ten regular season title in 2013 and made three NCAA Tournament appearances, including back-to-back trips to the Sweet Sixteen in 2012 and 2013.
McClain helped Indiana land recruiting classes ranked No. 7 in 2012, No. 4 in 2013 and No. 21 in 2014. He also played a pivotal role in developing NBA lottery picks Victor Oladipo (No. 2 overall by Orlando in 2013), Cody Zeller (No. 4 overall by Charlotte in 2013) and Noah Vonleh (No. 9 overall by Charlotte in 2014). Oladipo and Zeller earned first-team All-America honors, and Oladipo was selected as Sporting News’ National Player of the Year in 2013.
Prior to his stint at Indiana, McClain spent three seasons (2007-10) under Jeff Bzdelik at the University of Colorado. McClain was an assistant coach for one year (2007-08) before working as an associate head coach for his final two seasons (2008-10). He helped develop Alec Burks, who earned Big 12 Freshman of the Year accolades in 2010 and was later selected by the Utah Jazz with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft.
McClain spent nine seasons as the head coach at the University of Wyoming (1998-2007). During his nine years, the Cowboys posted a 157-115 mark and earned back-to-back Mountain West Conference regular-season championships in 2001 and 2002. The outright title in 2002 marked the program’s first outright league championship in 20 years. In the 2001-02 season, McClain led Wyoming to a 22-9 record and the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 after posting an upset of Gonzaga in the Round of 64. The Cowboys also made three trips to the NIT (1999, 2001 and 2003) during his tenure. McClain is one of only two coaches in Wyoming program history to post three consecutive 20-win seasons.
Prior to his time at Wyoming, McClain served four seasons (1994-98) as an assistant coach at TCU under Billy Tubbs. In the year prior to McClain’s arrival, the Horned Frogs posted a 7-20 mark. During his four seasons in Fort Worth, McClain helped TCU register an 81-44 overall record and earn spots in the 1998 NCAA Tournament and the 1997 NIT. In the 1997-98 season, the Horned Frogs tallied a 27-6 mark, finished No. 15 in the final Associated Press poll, became the first team to go undefeated in Western Athletic Conference (WAC) history and led the nation in scoring (97.2 ppg).
McClain spent three seasons (1991-94) as the head coach at Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College, compiling a 91-16 (.850) record during that time. During his final year at Hutchinson in 1993-94, the team posted a 35-4 record and won the NJCAA National Championship while averaging 90 points per contest. McClain was recognized as the NJCAA and NABC-Kodak National Coach of the Year in 1994. He also served as an assistant coach at Hutchinson for five seasons (1986-91), helping the Dragons win the NJCAA National Championship in 1988.
McClain began his coaching career as an undergraduate student assistant during his final two years (1982-84) at Chadron State College in Chadron, Neb. Following graduation, he served as an assistant coach at Sioux Empire Junior College in Iowa (1984-85) and Independence Community College in Kansas (1985-86).
A native of Orient, Iowa, McClain graduated from Chadron State College in 1984 with a bachelor’s degree in Health. He and his wife, Kim, have one son, Dylan.
The Steve McClain File
|
Hometown |
Orient, Iowa |
|
Education |
Chadron State College (Chadron, Neb.), bachelor’s degree, Health, 1984 |
|
Wife |
Kim |
|
Children |
Dylan |
McClain’s Coaching Experience
|
Years |
School |
Position/Title |
|
2023- |
Texas |
Assistant Coach |
|
2022-23 |
Texas |
Special Assistant to the Head Coach |
|
2020-22 |
Georgia |
Assistant Coach |
|
2015-20 |
Illinois-Chicago |
Head Coach |
|
2012-15 |
Indiana |
Associate Head Coach |
|
2010-12 |
Indiana |
Assistant Coach |
|
2008-10 |
Colorado |
Associate Head Coach |
|
2007-08 |
Colorado |
Assistant Coach |
|
1998-2007 |
Wyoming |
Head Coach |
|
1994-98 |
TCU |
Assistant Coach |
|
1991-94 |
Hutchinson Community College (Kan.) |
Head Coach |
|
1986-91 |
Hutchinson Community College (Kan.) |
Assistant Coach |
|
1985-86 |
Independence Community College (Kan.) |
Assistant Coach |
|
1984-85 |
Sioux Empire Junior College (Iowa) |
Assistant Coach |
|
1982-84 |
Chadron State College (Neb.) |
Assistant Coach |
McClain’s Year-by-Year Division I Head Coaching Record
As a Division I Collegiate Head Coach
|
Year |
School |
Overall W-L |
Conf W-L |
Postseason |
|
1998-99 |
Wyoming |
18-10 |
7-7 |
NIT Second Round |
|
1999-2000 |
Wyoming |
19-12 |
8-6 |
- |
|
2000-01 |
Wyoming |
20-10 |
10-4 |
NIT First Round |
|
2001-02 |
Wyoming |
22-9 |
11-3 |
NCAA Round of 32 |
|
2002-03 |
Wyoming |
21-11 |
8-6 |
NIT Second Round |
|
2003-04 |
Wyoming |
11-17 |
4-10 |
- |
|
2004-05 |
Wyoming |
15-13 |
7-7 |
- |
|
2005-06 |
Wyoming |
14-18 |
5-11 |
- |
|
2006-07 |
Wyoming |
17-15 |
7-9 |
- |
|
2015-16 |
UIC |
5-25 |
3-15 |
- |
|
2016-17 |
UIC |
17-19 |
7-11 |
- |
|
2017-18 |
UIC |
20-16 |
12-6 |
CIT runner-up |
|
2018-19 |
UIC |
16-16 |
10-8 |
- |
|
2019-20 |
UIC |
18-17 |
10-8 |
|
|
Totals |
14 seasons |
233-208 (.528) |
109-111 (.495) |
1 NCAA, 3 NITs, 1 CIT |
