Wayne McClain, a former aide to head coach Bruce Weber at Illinois and

Kansas State, passed away on Wednesday at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, Illinois after an illness. He was 59.

A successful high school coach, McClain came to Kansas State in October 2012 as director of student-athlete development after spending 11 years at Illinois, including the last nine with Weber. Although he spent just one season at K-State before returning to the prep ranks he made it a memorable one as he helped the Wildcats to a 27-8 overall record, and a share of  their first conference title since 1977 with a 14-4 Big 12 mark.

McClain’s high school basketball teams won four state championships in Illinois, and he was named the 1997 USA Today National High School Coach of the Year.