McNeese head coach Will Wade has agreed to a six-year contract to become the next coach at N.C. State, according to a source familiar with the situation. The source requested anonymity since the university has not yet made any official announcements regarding its coaching search.
Wade’s second NCAA Tournament appearance with McNeese came to an end on Saturday with a second-round loss to Purdue, just two days after his team’s upset win over his alma mater, Clemson. During his two-year tenure at McNeese in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Wade successfully rebuilt his career after being dismissed from LSU in 2022 due to allegations of recruiting violations, which were tied to a federal corruption probe in college basketball that began in 2017. N.C. State was among the schools mentioned in the investigation.
OG Media reported earlier this week that Will Wade and N.C. State had agreed to a deal for him to become the new head coach of the Wolfpack. CBS Sports was the first to report the official signing after McNeese’s loss to Purdue. The 42-year-old Wade had openly confirmed his discussions with N.C. State prior to the Clemson victory, offering an unusually transparent response compared to most coaches who usually avoid commenting on potential job changes.
Will Wade, when asked about the N.C. State job, stated, “Just tell it like it is” on Wednesday. After McNeese’s loss to Purdue on Saturday, he commented, “I’ll worry about that tomorrow. Look, I’m an honest guy, but today I want to wrap up everything with McNeese if we can.”
Wade will take over the N.C. State coaching position, replacing Kevin Keatts, who was let go after eight seasons on March 9. This decision came less than a year after Keatts led the team to its first Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament title since 1987 and a Final Four appearance, which was the first since Jim Valvano’s famous 1983 NCAA championship team.
Keatts had taken N.C. State to three NCAA tournaments and had the team positioned for another bid when the 2020 March Madness was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the Wolfpack struggled this season, finishing with a 12-19 record, which ended any excitement from their previous year’s success.
The decision to part ways with Kevin Keatts, despite him being under contract until 2030, ultimately cost N.C. State around $6.9 million in base salary. This move signaled a fresh start for the program, which is also adjusting its financial approach, especially with players now able to profit from their athletic fame. Starting next season, revenue sharing will be implemented across the country, adding another layer of change.
Will Wade’s coaching career began with a two-year stint at Chattanooga from 2013 to 2015, followed by two NCAA Tournament appearances in as many seasons at VCU. He moved on to LSU in 2017, where his best season came in his second year, leading LSU to the Southeastern Conference regular-season title and a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
After leaving LSU, Wade returned to coaching at McNeese in 2023, despite starting with NCAA penalties, including a 10-game suspension. Despite the rocky beginning, Wade helped the Cowboys win 58 games in two seasons, a stark improvement for a program that had won just 56 games in the five years prior to his arrival.
Reflecting on his time at McNeese, Wade said, “I think I needed somewhere that was going to embrace me, and the town needed somebody to embrace them. It just worked. I can’t explain how. I guess the winning helps, but it worked. Just unforgettable.”
