Just 366 days after his infamous introductory press conference, former men’s basketball head coach Will Wade is set to leave NC State and return to LSU — the same team he was fired from for allegedly paying players — according to multiple reports from Pack Power, PackInsider.com and On3’s Pete Nakos and Joe Tipton.
Pressure has built on the Wolfpack for the last 48 hours after news that the Tigers were working to hire McNeese’s Heath Schroyer as a Senior Deputy AD and Executive Director of External Relations, rejoining LSU President Wade Rousse — the same duo responsible for bringing Wade back into the collegiate scene at McNeese after his forced exit from Baton Rouge.
Wade’s tenure did not live up to expectations with a record of 20-14. The Wolfpack finished seventh in the ACC and scraped into the NCAA Tournament, falling in the First Four to Texas and not making it to the Round of 64.
Wade said in multiple press conferences to close the season he was excited to get back to work recruiting and building the roster for next season with the support of the athletics department.
“Is the job open there? No. Let me be very clear. I’m excited at NC State,” Wade said after NC State’s loss to Virginia in the ACC Tournament. “I was hired at NC State to do a job. This wasn’t going to take one year. I’ve already met with our administration about next year and some of the changes that we need to make and some of the things that we need to do to put this program where it deserves long term.”
For the second time in as many seasons, NC State now searches for a new head coach to lead the Wolfpack into the future. It is unclear what direction Athletics Director Boo Corrigan will go, since hiring Wade was supposed to be the big swing.
LSU was able to make the move with Wade’s buyout being just $3 million come April 1, 2026 — clearly within the Tigers’ budget. The official move is contingent upon the firing of the Tigers’ current head coach Matt McMahon, but is expected to go through within the coming days.
This is a developing story.
