March 12, 2007
Cullowhee, N.C. -
The Western Carolina Department of Athletics offers its condolences to the family of former defensive lineman, Larry McClain, who passed away on Friday in his hometown of Dillon, S.C. McClain, who played football for the Catamounts from 1977-80, was the assistant head football coach and defensive coordinator at Fayetteville State University.
"Larry was a great representative of Western Carolina University and our football program," said WCU head coach and former teammate of McClain, Kent Briggs. "I have always been proud of Larry as a Catamount, teammate, a friend and a fellow coach. He will definitely be missed by the Catamount family."
McClain was a four-year letter winner at WCU, amassing 258 career tackles, including 131 solo stops. He led the team in sacks both as a freshman in 1977 and as a senior in 1980 with six each season, finishing with 15 for his career. He also recovered four fumbles and caused three.
In his four seasons in the purple and gold, McClain played under Western's legendary head coach, Bob Waters, and for current defensive coordinator, Don Powers. He also played along the WCU defensive front beside the likes of Ty Smith (1975-78), who led the team in tackles in 1977, and Ricky Smith (1977-80), who ranks tied for fifth all-time on WCU's tackles chart with 320 stops.
McClain's coaching career began as a defensive line coach at Newberry College in Newberry S.C. He has had coaching stints at Oklahoma State, Elon and Murray State. As the assistant head coach at Fayetteville State, McClain helped the Broncos to back-to-back Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association championships in 2002 and 2003.
McClain is survived by his wife, Karen, and two daughters. The family lived in Hope Mills.
Read more about Larry McClain from the Fayetteville Observer
