REPORTS: ‘Fans Won’t Be Happy’ — Will Wade Makes Major NC State Revelation

Wade didn’t hold back here at all

It’s still surprising to many, but Will Wade has made his way back home to LSU and Baton Rouge. After spending last season at NC State, Wade received an offer to return to LSU—one he ultimately couldn’t pass up. The situation certainly added plenty of drama.

Wade has already gotten to work building his new roster, with international prospects expected to be a major focus moving forward. What made the move back so straightforward? While speaking with Jon Rothstein, Wade had plenty of positive things to say about NC State, but he also emphasized that LSU’s resources—especially in the SEC—give him opportunities that may not have been possible with the Wolfpack.

The resources at LSU played a major role in Will Wade’s decision to leave NC State

“It was tough to leave there, but I think that at LSU with the SEC, we just have more resources,” Wade said. “The saying, ‘The SEC, it just means more’—it’s true. It’s 100 percent true. We’ve got tremendous resources here because of the revenue generated from our basketball and football deals. I think we have the ability to compete with the best in the SEC, and when you compete with the best in the SEC, you give yourself a chance to compete nationally.”

That statement made a strong impression, as Wade is clearly excited about being back in the conference. Back in March 2022, LSU dismissed him following a major NCAA case. He later coached at McNeese before spending one season in the ACC with NC State.

Once the LSU job opened again, speculation quickly grew that the program would make a serious push to bring Wade back. At first, the idea seemed unlikely, but when it actually happened, many were stunned—some fans are still trying to process it.

Now that Wade is back in charge, his focus is on restoring LSU to a high level of success. He’s already made a splash by landing Kentucky transfer Mouhamed Dioubate, but there’s still plenty of work ahead. Wade will continue pursuing top talent, and with the resources he highlighted, the expectation is that more big additions could be on the way soon.