Photo: Jim Mattson, 27 Nov 2013.
Wayne and Sergio McClain are two of the most prominent athletes in recent central Illinois history. This episode reflects the roles that legacy and community play in our engagement with sports.
Wayne McClain coached basketball in high school and college for 38 seasons. After successful playing careers at Peoria Manual High School and Bradley University, Wayne spent 18 years as the assistant coach, then 8 years as head coach including 3 consecutive state championships at manual high. The Illinois Basketball Coaches Association named Wayne Coach of the Year in 1997. He became an assistant coach at the University of Illinois for 9 seasons before joining Bruce Weber for one year at Kansas State. McClain then returned to his hometown as head coach of Champaign Central High.
Sergio McClain played in 4 state championships for the Peoria Manual Rams, earned Mr. Basketball of Illinois in 1997, and was coached by Wayne, his father, for all four years including three as head coach. Sergio then joined the University of Illinois with an NCAA Elite Eight appearance his senior year. After college, Sergio coached, among others, the NJCAA Parkland Cobras, served as interim and head coach at Champaign Central, and head coach of the Champaign Swarm, a team in the Midwest Professional Basketball Association.
Sergio also created the 217309 Pipeline organization to bring support to low income and low achieving youth by way of tutoring and active participation in organized exercises. Sergio renamed the organization to the Wayne McClain Pipeline Foundation to honor his late father, and their shared passion for education, mentoring, and community.
We honor the McClain’s sports achievements and celebrate their commitments to community engagement.
Until next time, for Stories Beyond the Scores, I’m Chris Reynolds.
References:
“About,” Wayne McClain Pipeline Foundation.
“Illinois coaching great McClain dies.” H&R staff and wire reports. Herald&Review, October 16, 2014.
Kroner, Fred. “Sergio McClain welcomes opportunity.” The News Gazette, March 1, 2019.
“Sergio McClain hired to coach Champaign Swarm in MPBA.” Peoria Journal Star, November 1, 2016.
Photo: Jim Mattson, 27 Nov 2013.
