Will Wade

{{Infobox college coach

| name = Will Wade

| image = Will Wade VCU.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Wade coaching VCU in 2016

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1982|11|26}}

| birth_place = Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.

| death_date =

| death_place =

| current_title = Head coach

| current_team = NC State

| current_conference = ACC

| current_record = {{winpct|0|0|record=y}}

| alma_mater = Clemson

| coach_years1 = 2005–2007

| coach_team1 = Clemson (GA)

| coach_years2 = 2007–2009

| coach_team2 = Harvard (assistant)

| coach_years3 = 2009–2013

| coach_team3 = VCU (assistant)

| coach_years4 = 2013–2015

| coach_team4 = Chattanooga

| coach_years5 = 2015–2017

| coach_team5 = VCU

| coach_years6 = 2017–2022

| coach_team6 = LSU

| coach_years7 = 2023–2025

| coach_team7 = McNeese

| coach_years8 = 2025–present

| coach_team8 = NC State

| overall_record = {{winpct|246|105|record=y}}

| tournament_record = 5-7 (NCAA Division I)
1–1 (NIT)
0–1 (CIT)

| championships = Atlantic 10 regular season (2016)
SEC regular season (2019)
2 Southland tournament (2024, 2025)
2 Southland regular season (2024, 2025)

| awards = SoCon Coach of the Year (2014)
2× Southland Coach of the Year (2024, 2025)

| coaching_records =

}}

Frank Williams Wade (born November 26, 1982) is an American college basketball coach who serves as the head men's basketball coach at North Carolina State University. He previously coached at Chattanooga (2013–2015), VCU (2015–2017), LSU (2017–2022), and McNeese State (2023–2025)

Assistant coach

Will Wade began his career as the student manager of the Clemson men's basketball team from 2002 to 2005. He worked under head coaches Larry Shyatt and Oliver Purnell, who gave him further opportunities as a graduate assistant (2005–06) and Director of Basketball Operations (2006–07). Tommy Amaker then brought him in as his first hire as Harvard men's basketball coach where he was responsible for helping to recruit a top 25 class for the program. He stayed at Harvard for the 2007–08 and 2008–09 seasons before leaving for Virginia Commonwealth University.{{Cite web |date=March 23, 2025 |title=Will Wade to Lead Men's Basketball Program |url=https://gopack.com/news/2025/3/23/mens-basketball-will-wade-to-lead-mens-basketball-program |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=NC State University Athletics |language=en}}

Will Wade was brought in as an assistant to then-head coach Shaka Smart at VCU (Wade was Smart's first hire like he had been Amaker's). He helped VCU to four consecutive postseason appearances, including a trip to the 2011 Final Four. VCU finished the 2012–13 season with a 27–9 overall mark and a No. 23 final national ranking. The VCU Rams were one of only five teams nationally to win 27 or more games in each season from 2009 to 2013 (the others being Duke, Kansas, Syracuse and Ohio State).{{Cite web |date=2013-05-13 |title=Chattanooga appoints VCU assistant Wade |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/9270419/chattanooga-mocs-appoint-vcu-rams-assistant-wade-coach |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}} In Wade's four years as an assistant coach, VCU was 111–37 (.750) with three straight trips to the NCAA Tournament.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-25 |title=Will Wade Named Mocs Men's Basketball Coach |url=https://gomocs.com/news/2013/5/13/207644060.aspx |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Athletics |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Aaron |date=2015-04-07 |title=VCU hires Will Wade to replace Shaka Smart |url=https://rvanews.com/sports/vcu-hires-will-wade-to-replace-shaka-smart/123944 |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=RVANews |language=en}}

Head coaching career

= Chattanooga =

In 2013, Wade left his assistant coaching position at VCU to lead the Chattanooga Mocs basketball program.{{cite news|url=http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/22235138/will-wade-named-utc-mens-basketball-coach|title=Will Wade named UTC Men's basketball coach|publisher=wrcbtv.com|access-date=March 20, 2017|date=May 13, 2013}} In his two seasons as head coach, he posted both winning overall and conference records, and led the Mocs to their first 20+ win season in 10 years. He was named the Southern Conference's 2014 Coach of the Year.

= VCU =

After two seasons at Chattanooga, Wade returned to VCU to take the head coaching position vacated by Shaka Smart.{{cite news|url=http://www.richmond.com/sports/college/basketball/will-wade-hired-as-new-vcu-coach-replacing-shaka-smart/article_6e8a0c25-1f5c-5f59-843a-af8180848a9c.html|title=Will Wade hired as new VCU coach, replacing Shaka Smart|publisher=Richmond Times-Dispatch|access-date=March 20, 2017|date=April 7, 2015}} In his first season returning to VCU, Wade guided the team to its first Atlantic 10 Conference regular-season championship and to a 25–11 overall record. VCU made the championship game of the A10 conference tournament for the fourth straight season, falling to St. Joseph's. The Rams also made their sixth straight NCAA tournament, one of only eight teams in the country to do so. VCU made it to the round of 32, where it fell to Oklahoma 85–81. Wade finished second in voting for A10 coach of the year.

= LSU =

On March 21, 2017, Wade accepted an offer to become the head coach at Louisiana State University.{{cite news|url=http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/18963241/vcu-head-coach-wade-agrees-six-year-deal-become-next-coach-lsu|title=VCU's Will Wade hired as next coach at LSU|work=espn.com|access-date=March 20, 2017|date=March 20, 2017}} On December 28, 2017, Wade earned his 100th career victory with a win over Memphis.

During the 2018–19 season, Wade's Tigers won their first five SEC games in a row. It was the first LSU team to do this since the

2005–06 team. They also claimed two victories over top 5 opponents (Kentucky and Tennessee), the first LSU team to do so since 1980. Wade coached the 2018–19 team to the Southeastern Conference regular season championship.

On March 7, 2019, it was reported that Wade discussed an offer to a recruit, which was overheard on a Federal Bureau of Investigation wiretap.{{cite web|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/exclusive-wiretap-reveals-lsu-coach-will-wade-discussed-recruiting-offer-hoops-scandal-middleman-175046487.html|title=Exclusive: Wiretap reveals LSU coach Will Wade discussed recruiting 'offer' with hoops scandal middleman|publisher=sports.yahoo.com|access-date=March 8, 2019}} Wade described the payment as a "strong-ass offer", and in the transcripts he is quoted as saying that he was frustrated with the situation: “I’ll be honest with you, I’m fucking tired of dealing with the thing. Like I’m just fucking sick of dealing with the shit. Like, this should not be that fucking complicated.” The following day, LSU announced that he was indefinitely suspended amid the FBI's probe.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/26192669|title=LSU suspends Wade indefinitely amid FBI probe|date=2019-03-08|website=ESPN.com|language=en|access-date=2019-03-08}}{{cite web|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/lsu/article_32a7d1c8-465f-11e9-93a4-534a6b66f261.html|title=LSU responds to Will Wade's request to be reinstated: Until he talks, he'll remain suspended|publisher=theadvocate.com|access-date=March 15, 2019}} Tony Benford was named interim head coach at LSU during Wade's suspension.{{cite web|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/lsu/article_887eec40-4208-11e9-9aa1-1f2143419696.html|title=LSU basketball coach Will Wade suspended 'indefinitely' in wake of wiretap revelations|publisher=theadvocate.com|access-date=March 9, 2019}} On April 14, 2019, LSU lifted Wade's suspension.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/lsu-reinstates-head-coach-will-wade-after-meeting-with-school-and-ncaa-officials/|title=LSU reinstates head coach Will Wade after meeting with school and NCAA officials|website=CBSSports.com|language=en|access-date=2019-04-15}}

It was also reported on April 24, 2019, that Wade agreed to significant modifications to his contract, in order to be reinstated. Some of those changes include: 1) to forfeit $250,000.00 in bonuses he would have otherwise earned during the time of his suspension, 2) the contract also allowed LSU to fire Wade for cause if he committed a Level I or Level II NCAA violation, and 3) he could also be terminated if the NCAA infractions committee issued a formal notice to LSU that Wade was involved in a Level I or Level II violation.{{cite web|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/lsu/article_204cdb80-66d6-11e9-b8df-ebea6e1c30b8.html|title=LSU coach Will Wade gave up bonuses, made contract concessions amid reinstatement|publisher=theadvocate.com|access-date=June 4, 2019}}

On August 25, 2020, reports surfaced that the investigation into the numerous alleged recruiting violations by Wade was ongoing and headed to an independent panel. Two separate NCAA committees referred LSU's case to the IARP (Independent Accountability Resolution Process, a system formed in response to a Condoleezza Rice-led commission on college basketball). Had this panel issued a formal notice of allegations, it would have put an end to the tenure of Wade, based on the renegotiated contract of 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/lsu/article_5869525a-e718-11ea-a126-379b88022f41.html|title = Investigation into LSU's Will Wade bribery allegations likely headed to independent panel: NCAA}}

Wade led his 2021 Tigers to the championship game of the SEC Tournament in Nashville and an 8-seed in the 2021 NCAA Tournament.

He was terminated as coach on March 12, 2022, after the NCAA formally served a notice of allegations based on the investigations into the reports of recruiting violations.{{cite web | url=https://www.cbssports.com/college-basketball/news/lsu-parts-ways-with-coach-will-wade-following-ncaa-recruiting-violations-uncovered-in-fbi-probe-per-reports | title=LSU fires coach Will Wade for NCAA allegations of major violations following FBI bribery and recruiting probe }}

=McNeese=

Wade was hired to coach at McNeese State University on March 12, 2023, replacing John Aiken.{{cite web|url=https://mcneesesports.com/news/2023/3/12/mens-basketball-breaking-will-wade-named-mcneese-basketball-head-coach.aspx|title=Breaking: Will Wade Named McNeese Basketball Head Coach|website=McNeeseSports.com}}

On June 22, Wade was suspended for the first 10 games of the 2023–24 season and was given a two-year show-cause penalty for his recruiting and bribery violations at LSU.[https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/37899194/mcneese-st-coach-wade-gets-10-game-suspension "McNeese St. coach Will Wade gets 10-game suspension"] ESPN. Retrieved 2023-06-22.

On March 20, 2025, Wade led McNeese to its first ever NCAA tournament win, beating Clemson 69–67 in the Round of 64.[https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap/_/gameId/401745978 "No. 12 seed McNeese holds off late Clemson charge to earn first March Madness victory"] ESPN. Retrieved 2025-03-20. The Cowboys went on to lose to 4-seed Purdue 62–76 in the Round of 32.{{Cite web |title=Purdue 76-62 McNeese (Mar 22, 2025) Game Recap |url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap/_/gameId/401746030 |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=ESPN |language=en}}

= NC State =

On March 22, 2025, Wade officially signed a six-year contract to be the next head coach at NC State University, replacing Kevin Keatts.{{Cite web |last=Tittley |first=Thomas |date=2025-03-22 |title=Report: Will Wade inks 6-year deal with NC State |url=https://www.thescore.com/ncaab/news/3248241 |access-date=2025-03-22 |website=theScore.com |language=en}}

Head coaching record

{{CBB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | conference = | postseason = | poll = }}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = Chattanooga Mocs

| conference = Southern Conference

| startyear = 2013

| endyear = 2015

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2013–14

| name = Chattanooga

| overall = 18–15

| conference = 12–4

| confstanding = 2nd

| postseason = CIT first round

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2014–15

| name = Chattanooga

| overall = 22–10

| conference = 15–3

| confstanding = 2nd

| postseason =

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = Chattanooga

| overall = 40–25 ({{Winning percentage|40|25}})

| confrecord = 27–7 ({{Winning percentage|27|7}})

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = VCU Rams

| conference = Atlantic 10 Conference

| startyear = 2015

| endyear = 2017

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| season = 2015–16

| name = VCU

| overall = 25–11

| conference = 14–4

| confstanding = T–1st

| postseason = NCAA Division I Round of 32

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2016–17

| name = VCU

| overall = 26–9

| conference = 14–4

| confstanding = 2nd

| postseason = NCAA Division I Round of 64

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = VCU

| overall = 51–20 ({{Winning percentage|51|20}})

| confrecord = 28–8 ({{Winning percentage|28|8}})

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = LSU Tigers

| conference = Southeastern Conference

| startyear = 2017

| endyear = 2022

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2017–18

| name = LSU

| overall = 18–15

| conference = 8–10

| confstanding = T–9th

| postseason = NIT second round

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = conference

| season = 2018–19

| name = LSU

| overall = 25–5*

| conference = 15–2*

| confstanding = 1st

| postseason = NCAA Division I Sweet 16*

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2019–20

| name = LSU

| overall = 21–10

| conference = 12–6

| confstanding = T–2nd

| postseason = All postseason cancelled-COVID

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2020–21

| name = LSU

| overall = 19–10

| conference = 11–6

| confstanding = 3rd

| postseason = NCAA Division I Round of 32

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship =

| season = 2021–22

| name = LSU

| overall = 22–11**

| conference = 9–9**

| confstanding = T–5th

| postseason = NCAA Division I Round of 64**

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = LSU

| overall = {{winpct|105|51|record=y}}

| confrecord = {{winpct|55|33|record=y}}

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subhead

| name = McNeese Cowboys

| conference = Southland Conference

| startyear = 2023

| endyear = 2025

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = confboth

| season = 2023–24

| name = McNeese

| overall = 22–2***

| conference = 17–1

| confstanding = 1st

| postseason = NCAA Division I Round of 64

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Entry

| championship = confboth

| season = 2024–25

| name = McNeese

| overall = 28–7

| conference = 19–1

| confstanding = 1st

| postseason = NCAA Division I Round of 32

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record Subtotal

| name = McNeese

| overall = {{winpct|50|9|record=y}}

| confrecord = {{winpct|36|2|record=y}}

}}

{{CBB Yearly Record End

| overall = {{winpct|246|105|record=y}}

}}

{{small|*Wade was suspended the final five games of the 2018–19 season. Tony Benford coached the team and was credited with the wins and losses.}}
{{small|**LSU fired Wade on March 12, 2022. Kevin Nickelberry coached the team and was credited with the loss.}}
{{small|***Wade was suspended the first ten games of the 2023–24 season. Brandon Chambers and Vernon Hamilton coached the team and were credited with the wins and losses.}}