With only 16 teams remaining in March Madness, other programs have begun making major changes, particularly regarding head coaches. Two notable names on the move are Bryan Hodgson (USF to Providence) and Will Wade (NC State to LSU).
The excitement behind the moves hasn’t been met by all. In response to both coaching changes, college basketball analyst Jay Bilas called out the double standard behind them.
Jay Bilas Calls Out Double Standard in Will Wade, Bryan Hodgson Moves
Earlier this week, Providence announced it was hiring USF head coach Hodgson to be the next head coach of the Friars. Hodgson replaces Kim English, who went 48-52 in three years at Providence. Hodgson is part of Alabama head coach Nate Oats’ coaching tree, having worked under him as an assistant at Buffalo and Alabama.
His first head coaching job came in 2023–24 with Arkansas State, where he spent two years and compiled a 45-28 record. For the 2025–26 season, he was hired by USF, where he went 25-9 and lost to Louisville in the first round of March Madness.
It was also announced that Wade would return to coach at LSU, where he spent five years (2017–22). During that span, he coached the team to a 105-51 record but was fired for serious misconduct. He later spent two years at McNeese before joining NC State for the 2025–26 season, where he coached the Wolfpack to a 20-14 record.
While Bilas feels strongly about the moves, it’s for all the wrong reasons. Following Wade’s announcement, Bilas posted:
“Of course, no ‘tampering,’ no ‘poaching’…just coincidence LSU fired its coach and hired NC State’s within minutes. The USF coach warned other programs to ‘stay away from my players.’ Then, HE was gone… so, nobody had to stay away from HIM. The double standard is laughable. Let’s stop complaining about player choice when coaches leave at the first chance for a better situation for themselves.”
Of course, no “tampering,” no “poaching”…just coincidence LSU fired its coach and hired NC State’s within minutes. The USF coach warned other programs to “stay away from my players.” Then, HE was gone…so, nobody had to stay away from HIM. The double standard is laughable. Let’s… https://t.co/Qekdnn3pfN
— Jay Bilas (@JayBilas) March 26, 2026
Bilas raises an interesting point: Many players are criticized for seeking opportunities to improve, whether through playing time or financial gain via NIL, and that criticism often comes from fans and coaches.
Yet LSU fired its coach and hired Wade minutes later, which implies tampering, and Hodgson warned programs about taking his players before leaving himself.
The question remains: Is Bilas right in saying there is a double standard for players leaving versus coaches leaving, or is he comparing apples to oranges?
