Jeff BorzelloESPN Staff Writer1:09 PM ET2 Minute Read
Former LSU coach Will Wade will be McNeese State’s next head coach, the school announced Sunday.
A press conference to introduce Wade is scheduled for Monday.
“I am delighted to welcome Coach Wade, his wife Lauren and daughter Caroline to Southwest Louisiana and McNeese!” said athletic director Heath Schroyer. “This is a completely different job than three years ago. McNeese Basketball is one of the best jobs in the nation in terms of one-bid leagues. We’re funded at the top of the league, have the best facilities, a passionate fanbase, and many other built-in benefits. I won’t find any excuses why we can’t win, and big. Honestly there is no excuse.
“Gone are the days of partying, hosting conference tournaments, or accepting mediocrity in all of our sports, let alone basketball.”
Wade was eager to return to coaching, sources told ESPN, and McNeese State had spent weeks laying the groundwork for hiring Wade.
Wade, 40, spent five seasons at Baton Rouge and led LSU to three straight NCAA tournament appearances to complete his tenure. The Tigers won the SEC regular-season title in 2019 and finished in the top three in the league three times.
Before taking over LSU, Wade spent two seasons as head coach at VCU, going both years to the NCAA tournament and two seasons in Chattanooga, where he finished runner-up in the Southern Conference both seasons. Wade began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Clemson before serving on the coaching staff at Harvard and VCU.
LSU fired Wade on the eve of the NCAA tournament just over a year ago after the school received a notice of allegations from the NCAA that listed five Level I violations and one Level II violation related to Wade. He was also suspended just before the 2019 NCAA tournament after reports revealed that a federal bugger caught him discussing a “strong offer” for a recruit.
According to documents obtained by ESPN in August 2020, NCAA enforcement personnel received information that Wade “arranged, offered and/or made improper payments, including cash payments, to at least 11 prospective basketball students, their family members and individuals associated with the prospects and.” /or non-academic coaches in exchange for the prospect’s enrollment at LSU.”
The case is being decided under the Independent Accountability Resolution Process, and LSU and Wade are still awaiting a decision.