It’s official: North Carolina State coach Will Wade is leaving after one season and going back to LSU.
Wade will become the new men’s basketball head coach for the Tigers after spending just one season with the NC State Wolfpack. The news became official on Thursday, and it is a seven-year deal for Wade, according to Jeff Goodman of The Field of 68.
After the reports surfaced, Wade sent a farewell message to NC State on X, admitting it was “not an easy decision.”
“This was not an easy decision, because of how much respect and appreciation I have for this program and this university. But the opportunity to return to Louisiana State University is deeply personal. It’s a chance to go home – to a place that means a great deal to me and my family,” the statement read.
— Will Wade (@CoachWadeNCSU) March 26, 2026
Wade began his head coaching career at Chattanooga in 2013, spending two seasons there before spending two years at VCU.
Wade was the LSU head coach from 2017 until 2022, when he was fired due to NCAA allegations. He was then hired at McNeese, and he took the Cowboys to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances before being hired by NC State before the 2025-26 season.
On Wednesday, the Wade-to-LSU rumors grew even more as LSU hired McNeese AD Heath Schroyer in a senior administration role, and Schroyer was the one who made the hire at McNeese.
Wade’s quick exit from NC State has received plenty of pushback early on, with Jay Bilas even pointing out the hypocrisy of the current state of the NCAA.
So, in the latest coaching carousel domino, Wade returns to Baton Rouge, and NC State will hire yet another basketball coach.
