Wade Leaves NC State for LSU, Leaves Wolfpack Searching

0:00It's March 27th. This is Durham News Today, local news powered by AI. Will Wade has stepped down as head basketball coach at NC State after just one season, to take the same job at LSU. He announced the move on Thursday through his agent, accepting an offer from his former school where he coached from 2017 to 2022. During his short time with the Wolfpeck, Wade turned around a struggling program. The team went from 5 wins and 15 losses in the Atlantic Coast Conference last year, under Kevin Keats, to 10 and 8 this season. They earned a spot in the NCAA tournament, but lost in the first four to Texas, finishing 20 and 14 overall. NC State Athletic Director, Boo Corrigan, expressed deep disappointment at a press conference Thursday. He noted they met for two hours on Tuesday to plan next season, with no sign Wade wanted out. Wade hadn't used the word Disappointed 7 times, highlighting the sudden shift. Wade had a rocky pass at LSU, with major NCAA violations that led to his firing.

1:05He rebuilt his reputation over two years at McNeese State before NC State hired him, despite the red flags. His big promises of a reckoning in college basketball now leave the Wolfpeck searching for a new coach. LSU continues building a bold staff with Wade alongside other high-profile hires, likely offering him a bigger paycheck. Meanwhile, NC State moves forward, licking its wounds, but better positioned after the quick turnaround.