Volleyball was the game. McLachlin was the name.
Spencer McLachlin ’07 knew the pressure of living up to it. His father, Chris ’64, coached Punahou to 11 state championships in boys volleyball. His mother, Beth, was an All-American at the University of Hawai‘i, a member of the inaugural Rainbow Wahine volleyball team and captain of the U.S. National team.
And then there was older brother Parker ’97, a two-sport all star in volleyball and golf who was on the PGA Tour. Spencer McLachlin was never one to stress, playing both volleyball and basketball for the buff ’n blue, and embracing the success with humility and grace.
“To see what he did in high school was amazingly impressive,” said older brother Parker. “Yet it never went to his head. He’s always been that same happy-go-lucky guy, the clown of the family, always with a smile on his face. But once the whistle blew, he’d flip this switch and become serious.”
In volleyball, Spencer was a three-year all-state selection and four-time all-ILH first team. In both his junior and senior years, he was both the ILH and state player of the year.
In basketball, he was a three-time all-state selection and the 2007 state co-player of the year. He capped his senior year by being named the state’s Gatorade Player of the Year in basketball and the National High School Player of the Year. The two-sport standout was inducted into the HHSAA Hall of Honor as a member of the Class of 2007.
Spencer followed in his father’s footsteps to Stanford. The Cardinal won the 2010 NCAA title when he was a junior, and he captained the team as a senior. Spencer took the coaching route after graduating, his first stop as a volunteer assistant with the University of Hawai‘i men’s team. He spent two seasons with Cal’s women’s team, four with the UCLA men’s team, and gained international experience with the U.S. Men’s National team at the Pan American Cup and NORCECA Championships. Last year, he joined the Indiana University women’s staff as associate head coach.