Will Wade made big promises when he arrived in Raleigh a year ago. He talked about a reckoning for college basketball and swore he would build something lasting at NC State. However, one season was enough.
How the College Basketball World Is Reacting to Will Wade’s LSU Return
Wade is heading back to LSU on a seven-year deal, replacing Matt McMahon, who went 60-70 in four seasons and never once made the NCAA Tournament. It is the same school that fired Wade in 2022 over Level I NCAA violations, and now the Tigers are bringing him back.
The part that stings for Wolfpack fans is the timeline. At the ACC Tournament, Wade shut down LSU rumors and said he was going to win big at NC State. After the First Four loss to Texas, he still sounded committed. Then he sat down with Athletics Director Boo Corrigan and the administration to hear their offer. A short time later, his agent sent a resignation email.
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LSU simply outbid NC State. More NIL money, a bigger staff salary budget, and a familiar support system already in place in Baton Rouge made the decision easier than anyone in Raleigh would have liked to believe.
Matt Norlander, writing for CBS Sports, reacted: “Yes it’s done. He’s gone. Will Wade is leaving NC State after one season, a 20-14 record and a one-and-done in the First Four to go back to LSU. One of the more bizarre, elongated, shameless coaching courtships ever.”
Source confirms to @CBSSports on Will Wade to LSU: “Yes it’s done. He’s gone.”
Will Wade is leaving NC State after one season, a 20-14 record and a one-and-done in the First Four to go back to LSU.
One of the more bizarre, elongated, shameless coaching courtships ever.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 26, 2026
Jeff Goodman, writing for The Field of 68, reacted: “Will Wade has agreed to a 7-year deal to be the coach at LSU, source told @TheFieldOf68. Deal is done. Big difference was the resources – he will have more NIL, staff salary, etc. in Baton Rouge.”
Will Wade has agreed to a 7-year deal to be the coach at LSU, source told @TheFieldOf68.
Deal is done.
Big difference was the resources – he will have more NIL, staff salary, etc. in Baton Rouge.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) March 26, 2026
Aaron Torres, writing for Fox Sports, reacted: “My personal opinion: Will Wade is making a mistake leaving NC State for LSU. I also understand being drawn back to a place you love, with the AD/President who hired you at McNeese now in prominent roles. Looks like one of the big dominoes in the college hoops carousel has official fallen.”
Torres also broke down LSU’s spending over the last six months: “LSU spending last 6 months: Lane Kiffin contract: $91 million, Brian Kelly: $54 million buyout, Reported 2026 football roster: $40 million, Matt McMahon buyout: $8 million, Will Wade buyout: $3 million. Would love to know where the money is ACTUALLY coming from in BR.”
My personal opinion: Will Wade is making a mistake leaving NC State for LSU.
I also understand being drawn back to a place you love, with the AD/President who hired you at McNeese now in prominent roles.
Looks like one of the big dominoes in the college hoops carousel has… https://t.co/ph3AiW2UeG
— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) March 26, 2026
Seth Davis, writing for CBS Sports, reacted: “Not only was this answer dishonest, but also condescending to the reporter who asked it. Quite the twofer.”
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NC State Athletics Director Boo Corrigan, speaking to reporters per The Field of 68, reacted: “Tuesday night, we talked about everything in the program… I asked him what we needed to be competitive. From there, as far as the resignation, it was an email that we received from his agent. I’d commiserate with (fans) about feeling lied to. And I’d let them know that I’m as surprised as they are by what’s gone on.”
NC State AD Boo Corrigan on Will Wade 👀
“Tuesday night, we talked about everything in the program… I asked him what we needed to be competitive. From there, as far as the resignation, it was an email that we received from his agent.”
“I’d commiserate with (fans), in terms of… pic.twitter.com/C3J73sGBlv
— The Field of 68 (@TheFieldOf68) March 26, 2026
NC State now faces its second straight coaching search, with the transfer portal opening in early April. Wade gets his second chapter in Baton Rouge, but the program he left behind is left to pick up the pieces again.
