Will Wade Ripped by NC State AD With Philip Rivers Quote After Leaving for LSU After 1 Season
Will Wade's tenure as the head coach of the North Carolina State men's basketball team lasted just one season, and the school's athletic director didn't exactly hold back Thursday.
After Wade announced he's heading back to LSU, NC State athletic director Boo Corrigan told reporters, "I think Philip Rivers said it ... the Wolfpack ain't for soft people. We're going to go find a coach that understands who we are."
He also said, "I'm disappointed that it ended in the way that it did rather wishing it never happened."
Corrigan also said NC State and Wade agreed to a $4 million buyout.
The comments are notable, especially since Wade said in his statement, "I also want to specifically acknowledge Boo Corrigan's leadership. He is thoughtful, decisive and deeply committed to doing things the right way."
He also said "this was not an easy decision."
Still, frustration from NC State's side is understandable. It surely planned on having Wade for more than one season, especially since he would have had the opportunity to build on this year's NCAA tournament appearance during the 2026-27 campaign.
Alas, Wade decided to return to LSU, where he coached for five seasons from 2017-18 through 2021-22. He led the Tigers to three NCAA tournament appearances and an SEC regular-season title during the 2018-19 season.
But his first run with LSU came with plenty of controversy.
ESPN's Pete Thamel and Jeff Borzello reported Wade was suspended for the 2019 NCAA tournament after a federal wiretap revealed him discussing a "strong-ass offer" for a recruit. He was then fired following an NCAA investigation that resulted in five Level I violations and a Level II violation involving Wade.
He received a two-year show-cause order and a 10-game suspension in 2023.
Still, the writing seemed to be on the wall when LSU hired president Wade Rousse, who hired Wade at McNeese State following the coach's controversial exit from the Tigers. Rousse then hired McNeese athletic director Heath Schroyer, who has a relationship with Wade.
Those dominoes started to fall all before LSU fired previous head coach Matt McMahon.
The end result is Wade is back with the SEC program and NC State once again needs to find a new coach.
