Will Wade is officially back in power conference college basketball, and his return is turning heads. But the buzz isn’t just about his new job as head coach of NC State — it’s also about the journey that brought him here. After his controversial exit from LSU in 2022, many doubted whether Wade would get another shot at leading a major program.
Now, as he takes the reins at NC State, people are asking: Was he really blackballed from the industry, or was his time away all part of a bigger plan? The coach recently opened up in a candid interview, sharing his thoughts on the journey. His words gave fans a rare look into whether he was truly pushed out or simply stepping back to prepare for what’s next.
Will Wade Reveals What Really Happened During His Time Away From Coaching
The college basketball world is well aware that Will Wade’s coaching career has seemingly been more about controversy than success. Now, as NC State’s head coach, Wade is opening up about his time away and the path that brought him back.
The NCAA accused Wade of five Level I violations, leading to his firing from LSU. Things got worse when an FBI-wiretapped conversation leaked, in which he reportedly talked about a “strong-a** offer” for a recruit. This scandal led to his firing in 2022 and paused his career at the Power Four level.
But the former LSU coach didn’t give up. He took the head coaching job at mid-major McNeese State, using it as a fresh start. Then in 2025, he made a big return by landing the NC State job. Clearly, Wade knows how to bounce back from tough times.
In a recent episode of “The Field of 68: After Dark” podcast, the NC State coach was asked about his coaching journey.
“We don’t run from controversy. We don’t run from tough conversations,” he said. He added that his exit from LSU wasn’t a surprise to those around him. “My president and my A.D. — like we were all on the same page. Our board member, like everybody knew, like, look, it was two years. They knew that there was a high likelihood,” he explained.
Wade, who is now 42 years old, believes that the transition to NC State was a planned event rather than a sudden or forced one. He admitted coaching changes can be tricky, but said his case was different.
“There’s no one right way to do it, but you’ve got to do what’s best for your situation,” he explained.
He then talked about keeping distractions low for his team during the transition.
“And so I think we were able to limit the distractions with the team by just hitting it head-on. And that’s how we run our program—we just tackle stuff head-on.”
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Some coaches fade away after controversy. But Wade’s return to a Power Five program proves he wasn’t completely shut out.
During his time away, he kept in touch with the right people. And for that reason, his path back to top-level college basketball was smoother than most expected.
Now, with a fresh start of sorts in Raleigh, Wade and the N.C. State Wolfpack will look to repeat their success from the 2023-24 season when the team made the Final Four.
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