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Will Wade explains decision to leave McNeese for NC State after hire becomes official

by:Alex Byington•03/23/25•

_AlexByington

Will Wade
Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Will Wade has been officially named as NC State‘s next head men’s basketball coach in a release Sunday, one day after Wade’s 12th-seeded McNeese State saw its second-straight NCAA Tournament run end in a second-round loss, 76-62, to No. 4-seed Purdue on Saturday.

Wade explained what drew him to the Wolfpack in the official press release.

“I am beyond excited and honored to be chosen to lead the Wolfpack basketball program,” Wade said in a statement released by the Wolfpack. “NC State’s rich tradition, passionate fan base, and location in one of the best cities in the country make this a destination job and I can’t wait to get started. I would like to thank Boo Corrigan and Chancellor (Randy) Woodson for this awesome opportunity. My family and I look forward to being a part of Wolfpack nation.”

The NC State press release confirmed CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein’s report that Wade has signed a six-year contract with the Wolfpack, pending NC State Board of Trustees approval. Wade will be introduced as NC State’s 21st head coach Tuesday in a private event inside Reynold Coliseum at 1 pm ET, with the ceremony to be streamed live for the general public on GoPack.com and ACC Network Extra.

NC State AD Boo Corrigan: ‘Will told me that he believes that he can win at NC State … and win big’

“I am excited and proud that Will Wade will be the next head coach for Wolfpack men’s basketball,” NC State athletic director Boo Corrigan said in the statement. “I went into this search with an open mind and had great conversations with several outstanding candidates from across the nation. But after speaking extensively with Will and others who know him well, I knew that he was the right leader for the Wolfpack.

“He is a tough coach with proven results on the court and he has grown and improved at every coaching stop,” Corrigan continued. “He is known for having great relationships with his players and he will hold them, his staff and himself accountable. Will told me that he believes that he can win at NC State … and ‘win big.’ It didn’t take me too many conversations with him to believe it too.”

The 42-year-old Wade has led VCU, LSU and McNeese State to NCAA Tournament appearances in seven of his last nine years as a head coach, with the 2020 COVID year counting among those two missed opportunities. Wade is 244-105 in 11 years as a collegiate head coach, including going 50-9 overall and 36-2 in the Southland Conference over the past two seasons at McNeese, which included back-to-back March Madness appearances.

NC State marks a return to Power 4 college basketball for Wade, who was infamously fired March 12, 2022 following five seasons at LSU after the program was formally served a NCAA notice of allegations into recruiting violations allegedly committed by Wade stemming from the 2019 FBI bribery and recruiting investigation into college basketball.