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Will Wade will not be the head basketball coach at McNeese next year. After two seasons, it’s being reported that he’s accepted a role at NC State for the 2025-26 campaign.
Wade has long been the Wolfpack’s top option after firing Kevin Keatts. Most believed they’d have to wait for the Cowboys‘ season to end before an announcement was made.
That isn’t the case. News broke of an agreement between Wade and North Carolina State on Wednesday. McNeese is set to take on Clemson in the NCAA Tournament on Thursday.
From my sources: NC State has reached an agreement with Will Wade to be its next men’s basketball coach. There is still the matter of finalizing the deal, and that McNeese is playing in the NCAA tournament, but plans are in place to move quickly when McNeese’s season ends.
-Joe Giglio / X: @giglio_OG
Nothing has been signed. Wade will remain with McNeese throughout the remainder of its NCAA Tournament run. Still, it’s a bit of a distraction just hours before opening tip.
Will Wade has gone 57-10 with the Cowboys. He’s led the program to back-to-back conference titles and postseason appearances. He’s done all he can in his short time on campus.
Even he believed that this would likely be the end of the road. Prior to winning the Southland Tournament Championship earlier this month, he said that he’d be open to listening to offers in the offseason.
“When I signed my contract, I committed to [athletic director] Heath Schroyer I was going to be here two years. I didn’t talk to one school last year… This is two years, and we’ll see what happens in the offseason.”
-Will Wade
He’s apparently done that and more. He’ll soon join a school with more resources and much deeper pockets. He’s sure to see a bump in his $700,000 annual salary. He should have more NIL money to work with, too.
North Carolina State has shown the ability to compete at the highest level. Prior to this year’s 12-19 output, the Wolfpack won the ACC Tournament title and made the Final Four.
Will Wade will look to elevate the program when he gets to Raleigh. He’ll have to wait until his final season at McNeese is through.