Will Wade is coming back to LSU four years after his problematic departure.

Will Wade Returns to LSU After Stint with NC State

Sometimes, things come back around. That seems to be the case for Will Wade.

This year, Wade was the head coach at North Carolina State but has made a move back to LSU after just one season with the Wolfpack, according to CBS Sports. John Rothstein reported this development on Thursday.

At 44, Wade is set to take over from former LSU head coach Matt McMahon, who is also expected to be let go.

Earlier, Wade had dismissed rumors about a potential return to LSU following North Carolina State’s loss to Virginia in the ACC tournament. He expressed confidence, saying, “We’re going to win and we’re going to get a big win at NC State. That’s what we’re going to work on moving forward, and we have the necessary resources.”

It seems, however, that he made it through his tenure only to end up back at LSU—where he was previously fired for breaking several NCAA rules, including offering illegal incentives to a freshman.

Yet, during his five years at LSU from 2017 to 2022, Wade elevated the program’s profile nationally. He captured the SEC regular-season championship in 2019 and guided the team to the NCAA Tournament three times.

After a brief break from coaching, Wade took the helm at McNeese State from 2023 to 2025, leading them to March Madness in both seasons. In his second year, he notably helped the Cowboys pull off an upset against No. 4 seed Clemson in the first round. He then quickly transitioned to North Carolina State, where he entered into a six-year, $17.25 million contract, but the Wolfpack’s season ended with a close 68-66 loss to Texas in the First Four.

As for his contract situation at NC State, Wade’s buyout is expected to decrease to $3 million on April 1st, and there’s potential for a settlement between him and the university.

Interestingly, Wade’s return to LSU aligns with the university hiring many of his former associates. This restructuring will start in November, beginning with McNeese President Wade Ruth, who will assume a role as a senior administrator, alongside McNeese Athletic Director Heath Schroyer.

Additionally, Wade has maintained a strong rapport with Lee Mallett, the chairman of the LSU Board of Supervisors, from his prior time at LSU.

This transition leaves North Carolina State as the fifth ACC team currently without a head coach. Recently, Syracuse replaced Adrian Autry with Jerry McNamara, and North Carolina also parted ways with Hubert Davis, leaving that position open.