Will Wade isn’t just another name in college hoops. It’s a name that has gone through controversies and media turmoils while holding the stats down. Wade leads the charge as NC State’s head men’s basketball coach. He took over as coach in March 2025 on a six-year deal. He arrived at NC State after stints at Chattanooga, VCU, LSU, McNeese, and Clemson.
Wade’s coaching record, despite all the drama, stands at 246–105 (.701). And Wade’s teams have been at NCAA tournaments, battled in the NIT, and fought in the CIT. Of course, there have been questionable moments like the 10-game suspension for recruiting violations during his LSU stint, but Wade has always returned. One of the reasons for this is his support system, which holds him steady, no matter how rough the court gets.
Behind the Bench: The Family That Keeps Will Wade Grounded
At the core of Wade’s coaching journey is his family, which keeps him grounded no matter how strong the storm gets. And the anchor amidst the storm is none other than his wife, his sounding board, and the first person to ever sit through a film session on a first date, Lauren Deason Wade.
Coach @WWadeLSU and his wife Lauren are on the way to Baton Rouge 🛩! #LSU #GeauxTigers pic.twitter.com/5aFWeZ1ZNf
— LSU Basketball (@LSUBasketball) March 21, 2017
The two met in December 2011 and were married by 2014. Lauren is no stranger to the intensity of college basketball. She is a UNC grad and loves the sport. Wade and Lauren’s bond grew a whole lot stronger in April 2017 when their daughter, Caroline Elizabeth, was born.
That was just 40 days after Wade took over at LSU. At that point, Wade was low on sleep and under high pressure, but all in about dad duty. But how did Wade become the basketball coach he is today? Again, the answers are all about family.
Wade’s parents Frank and Margaret “Sissy” Wade are the reason that the love for hoops was born. Wade was raised in Nashville, and Friday nights meant being present at local high school games. And these games were handpicked by his dad to tag along with friends.
That ritual evolved into weekend pilgrimages to Vanderbilt matchups. Soon, for young Wade, basketball became a tradition. But it was not all games in the Wade household. Academics and learning were just as important.
Wade’s mom, a long-serving school principal and Vanderbilt grad, shaped his drive for learning. Before hoops took over, Wade was a history teacher with a special love for the Civil War and civil rights. Even today, Wade leans on his longtime running buddy to help him stick to his everyday running routine.
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In fact, as per 2017 reports, Wade hadn’t missed a jog in over 4,000 days. Rain, road trips, or roster overhauls, the streak stays alive. Through the wins, the setbacks, and every new chapter, Wade’s circle has stayed tight.
They’re not the ones drawing up plays, but they’re the reason he can. And at NC State, as the next era begins, Wade is bringing the same love for hoops and a promising pedagogy to the hard courts.
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