chattanooga MOCS

Rachel McClellan joined the program in spring 2024 as an assistant coach. The former All-Big Ten and professional hitter lends her expertise to the squad.

McClellan competed all across the front line in her playing career. She starred at Illinois from 2002-05 as a 2-time All-Big Ten selection completing her career with 1,662 kills while breaking Illini records for attacks in a match (99), season (1,786) and career (4,462).

Her 5.79 kills per set in 2005 led the Big Ten and ranked fifth nationally. She tallied a career-high 39 kills in 99 swings as a junior on Nov. 16, 2005. McClellan was a 5-time Fighting Illini Scholar-Athlete of the Week Award winner.

That led to a globe-trotting professional experience. She competed professionally in Puerto Rico, Spain, South Korea, Czech Republic, Germany and Italy. She won a league title in Puerto Rico and was the season points leader in South Korea. During that time, McClellan also had multiple stints with the U.S. National Team at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

The former Rachel VanMeter is the owner of FIT4MOM, a small business in the Chattanooga area where she resides with her husband Anthony McClellan Jr. She is also the mother to four children: Adelynn, Avery Kate, Anderson and Allie Grace. She played for Soddy Daisy High School in suburban Chattanooga her first two years of high school before moving to South Carolina.