Report: Baylor assistant Bill Armstrong expected to replace Will Wade if McNeese coach leaves

Baylor assistant Bill Armstrong is the front runner to take the McNeese head coaching job, if Will Wade leaves for NC State, according to Jeff Goodman. Wade is the heavy favorite to land the Wolfpack gig.

“If Will Wade does wind up taking the NC State job, as expected, the frontrunner to replace him at McNeese is Baylor assistant Bill Armstrong, source told The Field of 68,” Goodman wrote on Twitter. “Armstrong worked for Wade at LSU.”

Most recently, Armstrong was the head coach at Link Academy. The team won the 2023 Men’s GEICO National Championship and was led by 2024 five-star prospect Tre Johnson.

Before taking over at Link Academy, Armstrong served under Wade as LSU’s associate head coach. Armstrong was fired with Wade in 2022 only days after the school received NCAA notice of allegations involving violations that had occurred since 2017. An FBI wire-tapping scandal involved Wade and eventually led to his termination along with Armstrong’s.

Prior to his seven seasons on LSU’s coaching staff, Armstrong spent six years as an assistant at Ole Miss. He also spent five years as Ole Miss’ coordinator of basketball operations. In Armstrong’s total 11 years with the Rebels, they recorded nine 20-plus win seasons.

Armstrong is known across the country for his recruiting ability. He was key in LSU securing the No. 3 recruiting class in the nation ahead of the 2018-19 season, highlighted by standouts such as Javonte Smart and Marlon Taylor.

The McNeese State leader confirmed he’s been in contact with the Wolfpack during a press conference on Wednesday, ahead of the Cowboys’ NCAA Tournament Round of 64 clash with Clemson.

“I lay it all out there to my players, and my players have laid it all out there to me. We are transparent. We’ve shared it all with each other,” Wade told the media, via FOX’s John Fanta. The former LSU Tigers leader answered yes to a question regarding whether he’s been in contact with NC State specifically, as well.

Reports began to surface connecting Wade to NC State over the weekend, after the firing of Kevin Keatts. Goodman relayed the interest of the Wolfpack, adding their administration met with Wade last week. Prior to his time with the Cowboys, Wade was the in-charge in Baton Rouge for five seasons, and the VCU Rams for two before that.

From a strictly basketball perspective, Wade would be a phenomenal replacement for Keatts. However, he comes with his fair share of baggage, as he was suspended and dealt with a myriad of issues with the NCAA over the last decade.

Stephen Samra contributed to this report