Key LSU assistant fired alongside Will Wade after Notice of Allegations

LSU basketball assistant Bill Armstrong has been fired with cause, alongside head coach Will Wade, following a Notice of Allegations provided by the NCAA this week. LSU confirmed the news in a press release issued Saturday afternoon, leaving fellow assistant Kevin Nickelberry as interim coach.

Bill Armstrong is mentioned within the NCAA’s Notice of Allegations, acquired and distributed by Sports Illustrated, as a key player in the Level 1 violations committed over the past five seasons under Will Wade.

His name comes up in the description of a 2020 incident, where an international prospect received $300,000 in impermissible benefits and assistance.

“Bill Armstrong, assistant men’s basketball coach, with the knowledge of Will Wade, head men’s basketball coach, violated the principles of ethical conduct and/or provided impermissible recruiting inducements in the form of cash payments, a job offer, lodging, impermissible academic assistance, a scholarship, and assistance securing visas to then men’s basketball prospective student-athlete (redacted).

“Armstrong also offered to do various favors for (redacted)’s friends and relatives as a further inducement to secure (redacted)’s commitment to LSU, including: a job within the institution’s men’s basketball program, an apartment, and a car for (redacted)’s cousin; a promise of a scholarship for a friend of (redacted); and assistance securing visas for other (redacted) basketball players to the United States.”

LSU releases statement on firings

LSU released a statement on the firing of both Will Wade and Bill Armstrong following the Notice of Allegations from the NCAA this week.

“Today, we informed Will Wade that he has been terminated for cause, pursuant to the provisions of his amended employment agreement as the Men’s Basketball Head Coach at LSU,” the statement read. “Bill Armstrong has also been terminated as Associate Head Coach. For more than four years, the University has patiently allowed the NCAA investigative process to unfold, jointly working with the NCAA Enforcement Staff and, subsequently, with the Complex Case Unit (CCU), to ensure the evidence collected was as thorough and fair as possible.

“Throughout that time, the University and its men’s basketball program have operated under an exhausting shroud of negativity. As requested, and as required by state law, the University is releasing a redacted copy of the Notice of Allegations received from the CCU of the Independent Accountability Resolution Process (IARP). The Notice contains serious allegations, including multiple charges alleging Coach Wade’s personal involvement in — or awareness of — Level I misconduct. After receiving the Notice earlier this week, we took several days to fully evaluate it and engage in deliberate and thoughtful discussions about our next steps.”