The oldest in his family, Sean McNally '78, always aimed to set a good example. He worked hard in basketball and life and set the bar high. Growing up in an athletic family (brothers Mike '82 and Tim '84, sisters Maureen and Mary Beth), Sean felt total support from his parents, siblings, aunts, and uncles.
"My end of the deal was to make them proud, so I put in a lot of practice, trying to be the best competition I could be."
Sean's work paid off on the Saint Ignatius basketball court, with a remarkable record of only seven games lost in four years. Sean was a relentless competitor on two City Championship and Regional Semifinalist teams. He guided his senior team to a 21-2 record, the second-best in school history. He led that 1978 squad with 382 total points, a 16.6 scoring average, 200 total rebounds, and an 80% free-throw percentage.
Sean's talent earned him First Team All-Scholastic, First Team All-Cleveland Press, First Team All-Sun, and All-Ohio honors. He was also named the squad's Most Valuable Offensive Player.
His greatest memories include teammates Mike Sweeney '78 and the late Timmy Hunt '78, who had been friends since grade school at St. Bernadette Parish. He still recalls countless hours shooting hoops on the driveway, getting rebounds from brother Mike '82 (a 2023 HOF inductee) while their dad handled noise complaints from neighbors.
Sean went on to an outstanding basketball career at the University of Dayton, later playing professionally in Europe, including Ireland and England, where he met his future wife, Jacqui. "I had an ankle injury, and a friend invited me to a pub in Halifax and introduced us. My ankle felt better, so we danced, continued dating, and married in England, where our first daughter was born."
In 2023, Sean retired from a 32-year career with the Cuyahoga County Treasurer's Office in foreclosure prevention and now works for the county prosecutor's office doing defendant research. He is also an assistant coach for the Saint Ignatius freshman basketball team and gives private lessons to young kids.
"Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is a great honor that I worked hard to achieve. But I couldn't do it alone. Saint Ignatius made me who I am today: disciplined and regimented. They pushed you and got you ready for the next steps in life."
Sean lives in Rocky River with his wife, Jacqui. Their four daughters are Lauren, Kealy, Molly, and Katie.
Saint Ignatius' annual Wildcats Roar celebration will take place on Saturday, August 17, at 5 p.m., during which Sean and four others will be inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. For more information and to register, please visit this link.