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McNeese coach Will Wade confirms communication with NC State

image_6483441 (3)by:Noah Fleischman•about 9 hours•

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Will Wade
Nov 11, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA; McNeese State Cowboys head coach Will Wade gives instructions to his players from the bench during the first half at Coleman Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Will McLelland-Imagn Images

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — As NC State’s coaching search continues to spin, McNeese’s Will Wade has emerged as the Wolfpack’s top candidate to replace Kevin Keatts. 

Wade, who captured his second straight Southland Conference Championship this season, confirmed he or someone close to him has been in contact with NC State. 

“Yes,” Wade said with a smile when asked about it on Wednesday morning. 

Wade added he told his team about the rumors on Saturday to get out in front of the situation ahead of their NCAA Tournament First Round game against Clemson on Thursday afternoon. The coach’s ability to be open with the questions about him leaping for a new job at the end of the year is just who he is. 

“Just tell it like it is,” Wade said. “You may not always like what I’m going to say, but I’m going to tell you what I think. I’ve always kind of been like that, and there’s no need to hide it. The guys are reading it on social media. It’s no secret. I’m not going to ask them to do something I’m not willing to do.”

“It’s no good if you don’t address it and if you sit there and BS them,” Wade continued. “They can read right through the BS, so you might as well, hey, this is what it is. Here we are, and we’ll figure it out.”

Wade, who was previously the head coach at Chattanooga, VCU and LSU, is primed to look for a higher-level job this offseason. He has continued to be open and honest about that, including alluding to it after his team won the conference title. 

The Nashville, Tenn., native wants his team to be focused for their bout with Clemson. Addressing the coaching rumors before something imminent broke was the best way of going about it in his mind.

“It was just me and our players and we all talked about it,” Wade said. “I’m aware of what I have got going on. They’re aware of what we’ve got going on. You just hit it head-on. We’re all on the same page with everything.”

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