North Carolina State's men's basketball coach, Will Wade, has firmly dismissed any notions of returning to his former coaching position at Louisiana State University. Despite LSU's recent disappointing seasons under current head coach Matt McMahon, Wade has reiterated his unwavering commitment to the Wolfpack, emphasizing his long-term vision for the program's success and his ongoing collaboration with the university's leadership to achieve it.
Coach Will Wade Stays Focused on Wolfpack's Future
In a press conference held on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Charlotte, North Carolina, following NC State's elimination from the ACC tournament, head coach Will Wade addressed persistent rumors linking him to his former team, the LSU Tigers. Wade, who previously led LSU for five seasons until 2021-22, was questioned about his potential interest in rejoining the Tigers, especially given the precarious position of LSU's current coach, Matt McMahon, after two consecutive losing seasons.
When asked directly if he had been contacted by anyone from his previous program, Wade's response was sharp and to the point: "Is the job open there? No?" He then asserted his dedication to NC State, stating, "Listen, let me be very clear: I'm excited at NC State. I was hired at NC State to do a job. This wasn't going to take one year. I've already met with our administration about next year and some of the changes that we need to make and some of the things that we need to do to put this program where it deserves long-term."
The Wolfpack concluded their season with an overall record of 20-12, including a 10-8 performance in ACC regular-season play. Their ACC tournament journey saw them secure a 98-88 victory over Pitt in the second round before ultimately falling to Virginia with a score of 81-74. Despite a strong start to ACC play with a 9-2 record, NC State experienced a dip, losing six of their final seven regular-season games. Nevertheless, the team is still projected to be included in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, with the official selections to be unveiled this coming Sunday.
Wade's commitment to NC State remains resolute. He confidently declared, "Look, we're going to win and we're going to win big at NC State. That's what we're going to do. That's what we're going to do moving forward. We have the resources we need. We have what we need, and it's on me and my staff to get the job done." Reflecting on the current season, he acknowledged, "This year hasn't gone exactly how we wanted it to, but we're going to rally and we're going to work hard and we're going to have a team next year that's ready to roll."
This declaration from Coach Wade provides clarity amidst speculation, firmly establishing his focus on the future of the NC State Wolfpack basketball program.
Coach Wade's unwavering commitment to NC State serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of leadership and vision in building a successful team. His transparency about long-term goals and collaboration with administration not only instills confidence in his current players and fans but also highlights the dedication required to transform a program. It also underscores that true leadership often means resisting the allure of past affiliations to focus on the present and future potential of one's current endeavors.