Former MSU Assistant Football Coach Dies

Larry McClain, a former assistant football coach at Murray State University, died Friday, March 9 in Dillon, S.C. The cause of death has not been determined. McClain had served as assistant head football coach and defensive coordinator at Fayetteville State University in Fayetteville, N.C., since 1999. He was Murray State's defensive line coach and strength coach for seven seasons, 1993-99, before joining the staff at Fayetteville State.

McClain, 48, is survived by a wife and two children. His funeral will be held on Wednesday (March 14) at 2 p.m. ET, at the Dillon High School football stadium. House of Thomas Funeral Home of Dillon, S.C., is handling the arrangements.

He was a member of head coach Houston Nutt's first staff at Murray State in 1993. In his first season, his work with the defensive line, and in particular with All-American Anthony Hutch, helped the Racers set a school record for sacks in a season.

McClain helped rebuild the Racers into a national contender. In 1995 MSU claimed the Ohio Valley Conference championship and advanced to the playoffs for the first time since 1986. The next year, 1996, Murray State won the OVC title again and advanced to the national quarterfinals.

During that two-year span, the Racers went 22-3 overall and 16-0 in the OVC. After Nutt left following the 1996 season, McClain would stay on at MSU for three more seasons while working under Denver Johnson.

He was recognized by his peers as the top strength coach in the OVC in 1995 and 1996.

McClain, a native of Dillon, was hired in 1999 by FSU Head Coach Kenny Phillips. Together, McClain and Phillips built the FSU football team into one of the most dominant squads in the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA).

FSU teams won back-to-back championships in 2002 and 2003, and made it to the championship game in 2004. During those years, the FSU defense ranked at the top in both the CIAA Conference and the nation. Two FSU defensive players, Brian Holliday and Charles Roberts, were named CIAA Defensive Players of the Year in 2002 and 2004, respectively.

His coaching career began at Newberry College in Newberry S.C., where he was defensive line coach. He has had coaching stints at Oklahoma State University and Elon College in Elon, N.C.

McClain played professionally in the United States Football League. He was a three-year starter for with Boston, New Orleans and Portland.

McClain graduated from Western Carolina University in Cullowee, N.C., where he was an All-Southern Conference selection and a four-year starter.

He earned three letters as a member of the Dillon High School football team. He also earned all-conference and all-state honors, and played in the 1976 Shrine Bowl.

Murray State University Athletics

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