As a basketball player for Upper Sandusky, McClain held the career-scoring record from 1956 through 1982 with 1079 points.

Following his successful run at Ball State, McClain was hired as the head football coach at Wisconsin, where he served from 1978 to 1985.

McClain's coaching career was cut short when he died on April 28, 1986, of cardiac arrest.

Following his death, he was inducted into the Bowling Green State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1986.

In 1986, the Big Ten Conference dedicated its football Coach of the Year award in honor of McClain.