On Wednesday Night, the storyline from Will Wade's Pre-NCAA Tournament Press Conference was the open nature in which he talked about his conversations with other schools during the coaching carousel. Will Wade openly admitted that he had met with North Carolina State and now it appears the conversations were more than just an introduction as Will Wade has agreed to become the next head coach of the NC State Wolfpack.
McNeese's Will Wade has reached an agreement to become the next head coach at NC State, sources confirmed to ESPN. First reported by @giglio_OG. Wade has won 57 games over the last two seasons at McNeese, went to five NCAA tournaments at LSU and VCU.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) March 19, 2025
Will Wade replaces Kevin Keatts who was fired one season after taking NC State to the Final Four with DJ Burns.
The hire is a home run for NC State as they're getting a coach that has won at every stop along the way. During his tenure at Chattanooga, Will Wade went 40-25 finishing 2nd in the Southern Conference twice. After Chattanooga, Will Wade took the job at VCU going 51-20 with a 28-8 record in conference play making the NCAA Tournament twice.
LSU then hired Will Wade away from VCU where the Tigers went on an incredible run in his five season tenure. Wade went 105-51 while at LSU with a 55-33 record in SEC Play, making three NCAA Tournaments which would've been four if not for the 2020 Tournament being canceled. In his second season at LSU Wade led the Tigers to a SEC Regular Season Championship and the Sweet 16.
From 2019 through his firing at LSU, there was controversy surrounding Wade coaching the team as the NCAA was investigating recruiting allegations. The wire tap conversation of Will Wade saying he made a "strong ass offer" will always be remembered but, he lasted until March 12th, 2022 when he was fired following LSU receiving a Notice of Allegations from the NCAA.
Wade is currently in his second and final season at McNeese State where he's led the Cowboys to a 49-8 record with a 36-2 record in conference play winning the Souhtland both seasons and making the NCAA Tournament.
Seeing Will Wade head to NC State is bittersweet for LSU Basketball fans especially if he takes the team on deep runs. There was really nothing LSU could've done but, seeing Will Wade lead other programs will sting for a long time especially as LSU continues to struggle. When Wade was at the helm LSU felt like a program on the rise and it'll take a long time to find a coach that's able to catch lightning in a bottle like Wade was able to do.