Steve McClain explains decision to join Rick Barnes' Tennessee staff

It was announced on May 13 that Tennessee would be adding former Texas assistant coach Steve McClain to its staff for the upcoming 2025-26 season.

McClain, who has bounced all around the country in a few different capacities, had been an assistant at Texas under former head coaches Chris Beard and Rodney Terry from 2022-2025. He’ll head to Knoxville for the upcoming season, joining his 10th different staff as an assistant coach.

“We go back quite a ways,” McClain said on Wednesday about Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes. “From the time he was at Providence to when I was a junior college coach, we’ve known each other through the years. You coach against each other. More of a relationship of respect and knowing what he’s done in his career and what I’ve been fortunate to be apart of in my career.”

The former UIC head coach will be joining a staff consisting of Barnes, associate head coach Justin Gainey and assistant coaches Gregg Polinsky and Bryan Lentz. He’ll replace former assistant coach Rod Clark, who was hired away by Indiana this offseason.

McClain boasts Tennessee’s toughness and winning

“When you talk about Tennessee, you start with toughness and winning,” McClain continued. “When you put those two things together, that’s what this program has been. Not just winning, but Elite Eights. Back to back Elite Eights and at the top of the SEC, which we all know a year ago was the best conference in the country and the best its ever been.”

Since Rick Barnes took over as head coach at Tennessee in 2015, he’s led the program to two Elite Eight’s, two Sweet Sixteen’s and a 232-109 (.680) record. He’ll return for his 11th season at the helm in 2025-26.

“Steve is a veteran coach who has accomplished so much over four-plus decades,” Rick Barnes said about McClain. “It was an easy decision to seize the chance to hire him here at Tennessee and we’re happy to have him. 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.”

Tennessee hauled in the No. 31 ranked transfer portal class and the No. 15 ranked high school recruiting class this offseason, headlined by small forward Nate Ament (No. 4 ranked player in class of 2025). The Volunteers come in at No. 12 in On3’s Way-too-early College basketball top 25.