Hesitate to join this debate but I have to say McClain was not a good head coach--maybe a decent assistant, or even good head assistant, but not a good head coach. Yes, he had some success, but the trajectory was clear. And yes, he had some good recruits, but his recruiting was on a downward trajectory as well, and he lost out on a number recruiting battles because of team moral largely due to his lack of leadership. And he also benefitted majorly from Shyatt's recruits. High transition offense? His supposed gimmick. Well I watched that offense for several years, knew one of the most visibile players on the team (yes, a Shyatt recruit) very well, and having some basketball experience myself, I asked "hey, what offense are you guys running?" His response? "Exactly, what offense!" That player described time outs, including one against Arizona in the NCAA tournament, when McClain could not pull himself sufficiently together to even give directives to the team--the players had to huddle on the court together and plan a stragegy themselves. This player also said the best coach on the team at the time was Schroyer! Who of course soon left for Portland. Again, another example of someone maybe being a good assistant, but not head coach material. I won't go on with the stories but suffice it to say the lockerroom was out of control. And firing McClain was a damn good decision.
We should all just feel really good that Shyatt is our head coach, a damn good one too, one that automatically gets the respect of his players but he is a leader of young men in addition to being a hell of a coach. Shyatt treats everyone fairly, doesn't let players run the lockerroom. We have some good years ahead of us. Let's feel good about that.
