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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of
3Representatives are saddened to learn of the death of former
4Fighting Illini men's basketball assistant coach Wayne
5McClain, who passed away on October 15, 2014; and
 
6    WHEREAS, Wayne McClain began his career in 1977 with Manual
7High School in Peoria, serving as an assistant basketball coach
8for 18 years to the legendary Dick Van Scyoc; he helped the
9Rams to the first of 4 straight State titles in 1994 as an
10assistant and was then named head coach in 1995; in his first 3
11years as head coach, he led the Rams to 3 consecutive State
12championships, which were led by his son, Sergio McClain, along
13with stars Marcus Griffin and Frank Williams; in 1997, his
14squad was named by USA Today as National High School Champions
15and he was named National High School Coach of the Year; in his
16first 3 seasons as head coach, he led the Rams to records of 32
17wins and 2 losses, 31 wins and 2 losses, and 31 wins and 1 loss,
18to go a combined 94 and 5 with what are considered some of the
19most legendary teams in State basketball history; he also
20earned Illinois Basketball Coaches Association Coach of the
21Year in 1995, 1996, and 1997; the Rams won Midstate Six
22Conference titles in each of his first 5 years as head coach
23and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the AA State tournament in
241998 and 1999; his teaching career included teaching high

 

 

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1school physical education and serving as the Manual High School
2Dean of Students; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Wayne McClain began his 11-year tenure with the
4University of Illinois coaching staff under Bill Self beginning
5with the 2001-02 season and remaining with Bruce Weber's staff
6through the 2011-12 season; he helped coach the Fighting Illini
7to 4 Big Ten championships and an appearance in the National
8Championship game; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Wayne McClain returned to the high school ranks
10for the 2013-14 season as head coach at Central High School in
11Champaign; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Wayne McClain earned a bachelor's degree in
13education from Bradley University in 1977 and a master's degree
14in physical education from Illinois State University in 1992;
15he and his wife, Robin, have 2 children, Sergio and Brindeshie,
16and one grandchild, Sergio, Jr.; therefore, be it
 
17    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
18NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
19we mourn the passing of Wayne McClain, and extend our sincere
20condolences to his family, friends, and all who knew and loved
21him; and be it further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That we declare January 15, 2015 as "Wayne
2McClain Day" in the State of Illinois; and be it further
 
3    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
4presented to the family of Wayne McClain as an expression of
5our deepest sympathy.