Brian is a sports coaching sensation. As the Kiwi's rugby league coach. He led the team to victory in the 2005 Tri-Nations Cup and again to close runners up in 2006. Brian is the "Rugby League International Federation's 2006 Coach of the Year".

On Thursday March 30, 2006 Brian McClennan was reappointed as Kiwi rugby league coach. His new three-year contract running through to the 2008 World Cup.

Being reappointed came as no surprise to any Rugby League follower. Brian had taken a team with great potential and had turned them into world beaters since being appointed in June 2005 after the departure of then Kiwi and Warriors coach Daniel Anderson to English club St Helens. He was on a one year contract.

In his very first match in charge, Brian oversaw the Kiwis' first win in Sydney in 46 years -- a 38-28 upset of Australia in October 2005 in the opening match of the Tri-Nations tournament.

The Kiwis went on to clinch the Gillette Tri-Nations Rugby League title the following month, whitewashing the Kangaroos 24-0 in final in Leeds to record their first series win over their trans-Tasman rival in 52 years. Not bad for a team that finished last in the same tournament the previous year.

His result saw him nominated as a finalist in the coach’s section of the Say When Halberg Awards. New Zealand’s top sports awards. In a rugby mad country this is no mean feat. Brian didn’t win but it heralded a return to Rugby League glory.

Peter Leitch (The Mad Butcher) went so far as to chronicle this incredible year in his "The year the Kiwis flew : from wooden spooners to winners" - Peter Leitch (aka The Mad Butcher) with Richard Becht. The write up said it all; "With a new coach drawing inspiration from his wife's gritty battle with cancer, and a team fired up and running on aroha, a new spirit filled the camp"

None of this came as any surprise to anyone who knows “Bluey”. His Father was regarded as one of New Zealand’s finest ever Rugby League coaches so from early childhood League was in his blood. So was winning! Soon after he took over as coach of the Kiwis Brian told a mate that he intended to make international league bigger than the NRL (Australia’s domestic competition) in Australian eyes. His friend laughed and said it would never happen.

At the end of last year, when Ricky Stuart chose the Australian coach’s job ahead of the New South Wales State of Origin position, Brian knew he had already achieved his goal. The fact that the Australian coaching job was even available was also due to his rampaging Kiwis – the incumbent coach, Wayne Bennett, stepped down after watching his team humbled 24-0 by New Zealand in the Tri-Nations final in November 2005.

In the 2006 Tri-Nations Brian once again showed his coaching skills as he took his team once again to the finals. Beaten narrowly by the Australians the Kiwis once again proved they were capable of consistently beating any team.

Brian believes in team culture. “Everyone in the squad is seeking and enjoying excellence, so they will do the extra training without questioning it. At the end of each training session they are searching for ways to become better.”

On March 17, 2007 Brian had another goal fulfilled when his beloved Auckland Lions made their winning debut in the New South Wales Premier League against Sydney club Parramatta. Brian is coaching director and assistant coach and Graeme Norton the coach. A reversal of their roles in the Kiwi team. The birth of the Auckland representative side will effectively be a reserve grade side for the first time since the 1997 Super League days.