Joe McLain enters his fifth season as the quarterbacks and passing game coordinator for the Mountaineers in 2023.
Fans of Mountaineer football might remember McLain from his playing days at Chadron State. McLain was an all-conference quarterback for the Eagles and was a regional finalist for the Harlon Hill Trophy in 2008. McLain was also named the Rocky Mountain Athletic Offensive Player of the Year and RMAC All-Academic Player of the Year that same season.
During McLain's time at Chadron, the Eagles were three-time undefeated conference champions and made three national playoff appearances.
Most recently, McLain spent the 2018 season at Division III's Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, Iowa, as the offensive coordinator. At BVU, McLain coached receivers and recruited areas in Iowa, Texas and Nebraska.
From 2012-15, McLain coached wide receivers, recruited the Denver, Colorado, region, and was NFL scout liaison at Chadron State.
In 2009, McLain helped coach quarterbacks at Douglas High School in Douglas, Wyoming. That year, the team won a state title.
Following his stint at Douglas High, McLain spent two years as the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator at Chadron High School in Chadron, Nebraska.
McLain graduated from Chadron in 2010 with a degree in mathematics education and received his coaching endorsement. He earned a graduate degree in organizational management with an emphasis in sports management from Chadron State in 2012. He lives in Gunnison with wife Taren and son Jordan.
