NC State has officially hired Will Wade as its next men’s basketball coach, signing him to a six-year contract. The announcement came Sunday, just a day after his McNeese squad fell to Purdue in the NCAA tournament’s second round.
Wade succeeds Kevin Keatts, who was dismissed on March 9 after eight seasons. Despite leading the Wolfpack to an ACC tournament title in 2023—its first since 1987—and a Final Four appearance, Keatts’ team struggled this season, finishing 12-19.
In his introductory press conference, he outlines his vision, approach to the evolving NIL landscape, and plans for building a competitive team.
Will Wade Sets the Tone for NC State Basketball in First Press Conference
Will Wade stepped onto the stage with an unmistakable message for NC State basketball: “Our time is right now.” In his inaugural press conference, he left no room for doubt about his intentions, boldly declaring,
“This is not a rebuild,” Wade said. “We’re gonna be in the top part of the ACC next year, and we’re going to the NCAA tournament. We’re gonna be aggressive. We’re gonna play aggressive on both ends.”
He stressed that the team would be committed to being the best.
“We’re gonna be committed to,” Wade said. “Being the best team we can be that represents our fan base, represents our university. As well as we can every night, we want to be a source of pride for everybody when you walk in the office on Wednesday night after we play, we want you to puff your chest out.
“Let them know, ‘Yes, we’re NC State, and we whipped you last night.'”
The new coach sees tremendous potential in the program.
“We’ve got everything we need to win at the highest level,” Wade said.
He further highlighted the university’s unique strengths.
“We’re in a really fertile recruiting area; we’ve got a tremendous university. We’ve got tremendous facilities, tremendous fan base, passionate fans. I mean, what else do you need?” Wade said.
The coach emphasized the university’s commitment to competitive NIL strategies.
“We’re going to be competitive at the upper end of this league, and we’re gonna be competitive nationally with our NIL package,” Wade stated. “You don’t have to have the biggest house in the neighborhood,” he explained. “You’ve gotta have the nicest house with the most manicured lawn, and you’ve gotta know how to spend the resources properly.”
KEEP READING: ‘We’re Going To Be a Force’ – Will Wade Reveals His Vision for NC State Basketball Revealed in Press Conference
Challenging the fan base, Wade made a direct call to action.
“Our first home game is gonna be Monday, Nov. 3rd. I want to sell out the Lenovo Center, 19,500 people,” Wade said. “We need to send a message. We need to let the state, the ACC, and the nation know the pack is back and we are not to be messed with.”
Wade takes over an NC State program coming off a tough 12-19 season, including a 5-15 ACC record. Despite winning the ACC Tournament and reaching the Final Four in 2024, the Wolfpack failed to qualify for this year’s conference tournament.
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