Will Wade joined the NC State Wolfpack in 2025 after a three-year run with the McNeese Cowboys. Before that, he was with the LSU Tigers for five seasons. His stint in Baton Rouge ended with a controversy.
Nobody thought that Wade would ever return to LSU, and that belief was shattered on March 26, 2026, when Wade agreed to return to LSU as their head coach. He replaced Matt McMahon, who served for four seasons.
Wade’s abrupt departure from NC State has left the most important job in the program vacant. Over the last few days, several credible candidates have emerged as the possible replacements for Wade.
Josh Schertz, head coach of the Saint Louis Billikens, was one of the frontrunners to be the next NC State head coach. As per ESPN’s Jeff Borzello and Pete Thamel, Schertz withdrew his name from the search earlier today.
Schertz will continue with the Billikens. He signed a six-year, $22 million contract extension with Saint Louis after making an NCAA Tournament appearance. Schertz’s team reached the Round of 32.
He met with the Wolfpack earlier this weekend to discuss the possibility of joining the program. However, their talks didn’t go as planned, and Schertz decided to withdraw his name and continue focusing on the Billikens.
What seemed like a nearly done deal has now fallen off, and the Wolfpack are left with a mighty task of finding another suitable candidate. There are plenty of candidates who are still available, but their hiring will depend on how the meetings go.
Tennessee Volunteers’ AHC Justin Gainey has emerged as one of the frontrunners for the job after Schertz’s exit. Georgia Bulldogs’ head coach Mike White and Furman Paladins’ Bob Richey are also on the list of potential candidates.
NC State AD on Finding Will Wade’s Replacement
Wade’s leaving for LSU has put NC State in a difficult position. They don’t want to rush someone into the head coach position, but they also don’t have a lot of time. The transfer portal opens on April 7, and having a head coach will help them avoid losing a lot of talent.
NC State athletic director Boo Corrigan recently told On3 that the program’s head coach search is prioritizing someone who understands their culture.
“I think Philip Rivers said it, … the Wolfpack ain’t for soft people,” he said. “We’re going to go find a coach that understands who we are. … Today is going to be the end of Coach Wade.”
Corrigan said that they will find a new coach soon, and when they do, they’ll celebrate it and move forward.
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