After 53 wins, 2 historic postseasons, McClung leaves as SMWC hoops coach

Last week, Jesse McClung coached the Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College men's basketball team in the NAIA Sweet 16 in Kansas City — a peak moment for a program that started only four years ago.

In two seasons, McClung built a 53-15 record overall and 30-4 in the River States Conference. His Pomeroys are on the national hoops radar.

Now The Woods has announced McClung is moving on "to pursue other career opportunities." SMWC made the announcement Tuesday morning.

A national search for SMWC's next head coach will begin immediately, a college statement said.

"I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude for the opportunity to serve as head coach over the past two years," McClung said in a statement.

"It's been an incredible experience working alongside such dedicated student-athletes and my staff. I'm truly thankful for the support and trust you''ve show me during my time here. We've accomplshed things that many people said we couldn't do — but we did. I'm proud of what we built and the progress we made as a program.

"As I step away, I take comfort in knowing my values show. I was always taught to leave things better than you found them, and I believe I've done just that. Thank you again for everything. I'll always be rooting for the team and wishing SMWC continued success."

His teams defended the home floor — Knoerle Center — fiercely, compiling a 28-2 record there. McClung's teams achieved to back-to-back National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) tournament berths—the only two in the school's history.

"I wish to thank Jesse McClung for all of his efforts as men’s basketball coach at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College," said Kevin Lanke, SMWC associate vice president. "This two-year run of NAIA national tournament appearances, highlighted by a national championship Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2025, has shown that we are building a nationally regarded athletic program at SMWC.

"Most importantly, I wish to thank coach McClung for recruiting outstanding student-athletes that have represented SMWC tremendously both on campus and in the community. I wish coach McClung nothing but the best in his future endeavors and I have no doubt that he will continue to have success on and off the court."

The 2024 RSC Coach of the Year, McClung guided Cobie Barnes to RSC Player of the Year honors and established SMWC as a powerhouse in conference play. In 2025, he guided the Pomeroys through an impressive postseason run, defeating two nationally ranked opponents, Dalton State (Ga.) and Ave Maria (Fla.), before losing to Grace 86-71 on Thursday in Kansas City, Mo.

SMWC also secured the outright 2025 RSC regular-season championship and swept through three home games to claim the RSC tournament championship.

McClung departs as the school’s all-time leader in career wins, single-season wins, RSC victories and winning percentage in all three categories.

SMWC began its men's basketball program in 2021-22, led by then-coach Mike Hunter, improving from 5-24 the first season to 10-17 the second. McClung then came in and led the Pomeroys to records of 25-7 and 28-6.

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After 53 wins, 2 historic postseasons, McClung leaves as SMWC hoops coach

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