Over the past week, Will Wade has been connected to North Carolina State’s head coaching vacancy. After the Wolfpack fired Kevin Keatts, Jeff Goodman of “The Field of 68” rumored that NC State was looking into Wade for their current coaching vacancy.
Goodman added that the Wolfpack’s administration met with Wade last week. The current McNeese State head coach acknowledged conversations he’s had with NC State for their head coach role and didn’t shy away from any questions reporters may have asked him.
Is Will Wade the Going To Be the Next NC State Head Coach?
Wade confirmed he’s been in contact with NC State ahead of the McNeese State’s clash with Clemson Tigers in the first round of the 2025 March Madness tournament. With McNeese focused on their upcoming game at hand, Wade could be thinking about more than that, including what is next for him.
“I lay it all out there to my players, and my players have laid it all out there to me. We are transparent. We’ve shared it all with each other,” Wade told the media via FOX’s John Fanta. The former LSU Tigers leader answered yes to a question regarding whether he’s been in contact with NC State specifically, as well.
NEW: McNeese State’s Will Wade confirmed he has talked with NC State about its head coaching vacancy👀
(via @John_Fanta) https://t.co/BoHxh12L9J pic.twitter.com/R5vabXN1wc
— On3 (@On3sports) March 19, 2025
Wade would be a great replacement for Keatts from a basketball perspective. However, he doesn’t come without his share of baggage, as he’s faced a bunch of issues from the NCAA as he’s coached in the past decade.
Wade has been a fantastic coach since taking over McNeese State in 2023. He’s picked up an outstanding 49-8 record and won both the conference regular season and conference tournament championship in each of his seasons with McNeese. This comes after he went 105-51 in his five seasons at LSU, including a Sweet 16 appearance in 2019.
As for NC State, it’s been a rollercoaster of the past 365 days. Keatts led the Wolfpack to the Final Four in a shocking run last season, but this year was a much different story.
This season, the team finished the season 12-19 overall, and 5-15 in ACC play. They ended their disappointing 2024-25 season losing three of their last four games.
KEEP READING: Clemson To Extend Brad Brownell’s Contract as Tigers Eye Another Deep March Madness Run
Keatts finished his time at NC State with a record of 151-113, including a conference record of just 69 wins and 84 losses. Through all of this, Keatts made three March Madness tournaments during his time as head coach.
Whether it’s Will Wade or someone else, that remains to be seen. However, NC State is looking to get back into the fray next season and beyond and repeat their magical, Cinderella-like run from last year.
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