What Happened to Will Wade?
Will Wade is an American college basketball coach currently serving as the head coach for the NC State Wolfpack. His career has been marked by significant success, including an SEC regular season championship with LSU and two NCAA Tournament appearances with McNeese State, alongside a high-profile NCAA investigation that led to his dismissal from LSU and subsequent penalties. As of March 2026, he is focused on rebuilding the NC State program after his first season concluded with an NCAA Tournament First Four appearance.
Quick Answer
Will Wade is currently the head men's basketball coach at NC State University, a position he accepted in March 2025. His first season with the Wolfpack (2025-26) saw the team reach the NCAA Tournament's First Four, where they were eliminated by Texas. Wade is actively preparing for the 2026-27 season, addressing roster changes, and has publicly dismissed rumors of a return to LSU, with NC State reportedly working on a new contract for him.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline12 events
Named Head Coach at Chattanooga
Will Wade began his collegiate head coaching career at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, leading the Mocs for two seasons.
Hired as Head Coach at VCU
After two successful seasons at Chattanooga, Wade returned to VCU, where he had previously served as an assistant, taking over as head coach.
Becomes Head Coach at LSU
Wade accepted the head coaching position at Louisiana State University, where he would achieve significant on-court success.
LSU Wins SEC Regular Season Championship
Under Wade's leadership, LSU secured its first Southeastern Conference regular season title in 10 years, advancing to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
Fired by LSU Amid NCAA Investigation
LSU fired Will Wade for cause after receiving a Notice of Allegations from the NCAA detailing multiple Level I recruiting violations stemming from an FBI probe.
Hired as Head Coach at McNeese State
One year to the day after his dismissal from LSU, Wade was hired as the head coach for McNeese State University, marking his return to coaching.
NCAA Imposes Penalties
An independent NCAA panel issued a two-year show-cause penalty and a 10-game suspension for Wade, effective at the start of the 2023-24 season, for violations committed at LSU.
Signs New 5-Year Contract with McNeese
Due to the rapid turnaround of the program, McNeese State signed Wade to a new five-year contract worth $700,000 annually plus incentives.
Leads McNeese to First NCAA Tournament Win Since 1988
Wade coached McNeese to an upset victory over Clemson in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, marking the program's first tournament win in decades.
Hired as Head Coach at NC State
Following McNeese's NCAA Tournament exit, Wade signed a six-year deal to become the head men's basketball coach at NC State University.
NC State Eliminated from NCAA Tournament First Four
In his first season with the Wolfpack, Wade's NC State team lost to Texas 68-66 in the NCAA Tournament's First Four, ending their 2025-26 season.
Denies LSU Rumors, Focuses on NC State Roster Revamp
Amid rumors of a potential return to LSU, Wade publicly denied interest and confirmed he is actively recruiting and planning for the 2026-27 season at NC State, with discussions reportedly underway for a new contract.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Will Wade's coaching career has been a rollercoaster of rapid success, high-stakes controversy, and subsequent redemption. After assistant coaching stints at Clemson, Harvard, and VCU, Wade began his head coaching career at Chattanooga (2013-2015) and then VCU (2015-2017), where he quickly established a reputation for building winning programs.
His tenure at LSU (2017-2022) brought significant on-court achievements, including an SEC regular season championship in 2019 and three NCAA Tournament appearances. However, this period was overshadowed by an FBI investigation into college basketball corruption, which implicated Wade in alleged recruiting violations. Wiretapped conversations revealed Wade discussing 'strong-ass offers' to recruits, leading to a prolonged NCAA investigation. LSU ultimately fired Wade for cause in March 2022, just before the NCAA formally issued a Notice of Allegations detailing multiple Level I violations, including impermissible payments and a failure to cooperate with the investigation.
Following his dismissal, Wade faced a two-year show-cause penalty and a 10-game suspension from the NCAA, which began at the start of the 2023-24 season. Despite these sanctions, McNeese State hired him in March 2023, a move that proved to be a remarkable turnaround for both Wade and the program. He led the Cowboys to back-to-back Southland Conference regular season and tournament championships in 2024 and 2025, securing NCAA Tournament berths in both seasons. His success at McNeese, including the program's first NCAA Tournament win since 1988 in 2025, rehabilitated his image and demonstrated his coaching prowess.
In March 2025, Wade accepted a six-year, $17.25 million deal to become the head coach at NC State, returning to a Power Four conference. His first season with the Wolfpack (2025-26) concluded with a 20-14 record and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament's First Four, where they lost to Texas. As of March 25, 2026, Wade is actively engaged in roster construction and program adjustments for the upcoming 2026-27 season, having expressed a desire to settle down at NC State. Despite recent media speculation about a potential return to LSU, Wade has firmly denied these rumors, and NC State is reportedly in discussions for a new contract.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Will Wade made different choices?