The NIU men’s basketball team lost one of its assistant coaching candidates Wednesday as Wayne McClain took the same job at the University of Illinois.

McClain, the coach at Peoria Manuel High School, will take over the Illini coaching job left by new Huskies head coach Rob Judson.

“I’ve been very impressed with his knowledge of the game and his sincere affection for his players, past and present,” Illinois coach Bill Self said Wednesday. “It’s very important with our current situation here at Illinois … that we hire someone who is respected by Illinois high school coaches and someone who can tie together recruiting efforts throughout the state. We feel Wayne is the man for the job.”

Judson doesn’t think he lost to Illinois in the assistant coaching wars.

“This is great for coach McClain,” Judson said. “He is a good guy and a good fit for Illinois. I thought that he could be an outstanding college coach. Illinois is smart in hiring him.”

McClain began his high school career in the Peoria public school system in 1977, serving as an assistant basketball coach to the legendary Dick Van Scyoc from 1988 until he became head coach in 1995.

He helped the Rams to the first of four straight state titles in 1994.

The Rams had records of 32-2, 31-2 and 31-1 in McClain’s first three seasons as head coach, winning state titles each season. McClain also was the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association’s Coach of the Year in 1995 and 1996.

“He’ll fit in well here because has the same type of personality as the current coaching staff,” son Sergio McClain, an Illini player, said Wednesday. “He has a good rapport with the players. The biggest asset is how well he knows basketball. He’s been around the gym a long time and he knows a lot about the game.”

As for NIU’s remaining two openings for assistant coaches, Judson has no timetable on when they will be filled.

“We are confident that when we fill our remaining two coaching positions, our staff will be a great fit for NIU,” Judson said.