Mar 22, 2025; Providence, RI, USA; McNeese State Cowboys head coach Will Wade during the first half of a second round men’s NCAA Tournament game against the Purdue Boilermakers at Amica Mutual Pavilion. Gregory Fisher Imagn Images
RALEIGH
Will Wade is officially the next head coach of N.C. State men’s basketball, Wolfpack athletic director Boo Corrigan announced Sunday.
Wade comes to Raleigh after spending two seasons at McNeese State in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and leading the Cowboys to the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 this weekend.
A source close to the program confirmed last week that the Wolfpack and Wade had a verbal agreement in place and he would join the program at the conclusion of McNeese’s season. The Cowboys upset Clemson on Thursday before losing to Purdue on Saturday.
Wade signed a six-year deal with N.C. State and replaces Kevin Keatts, who was fired on March 9 after following up a Final Four appearance with a 12-19 season.
“I am excited and proud that Will Wade will be the next head coach for Wolfpack men’s basketball,” Corrigan said in a statement. “I went into this search with an open mind and had great conversations with several outstanding candidates from across the nation. But after speaking extensively with Will and others who know him well, I knew that he was the right leader for the Wolfpack.
“He is a tough coach with proven results on the court and he has grown and improved at every coaching stop. He is known for having great relationships with his players and he will hold them, his staff and himself accountable. Will told me that he believes that he can win at NC State … and ‘win big.’ It didn’t take me too many conversations with him to believe it too.”
Wade was also a head coach at LSU, VCU and Chattanooga, and was previously a candidate for the N.C. State vacancy that ultimately went to Keatts.
Keatts led the Wolfpack on a historic run to its first ACC title since 1987, and to its first Final Four since 1983, just a year ago. But the Wolfpack never gained its footing this past season, finishing 12-19 overall, 5-15 in ACC play and among the bottom three in the conference standings, missing the ACC Tournament.
“I am beyond excited and honored to be chosen to lead the Wolfpack basketball program,” Wade in a statement. “N.C. State’s rich tradition, passionate fan base, and location in one of the best cities in the country make this a destination job and I can’t wait to get started. I would like to thank Boo Corrigan and Chancellor Woodson for this awesome opportunity. My family and I look forward to being a part of Wolfpack nation.”
Wade’s two-year stint at McNeese State provided a historic lift for the program and career renewal for himself.
He arrived at McNeese after being fired from his previous head coaching job at LSU for a series of Level I NCAA violations. He started his McNeese stint last season serving a 10-game suspension.
This season, he led the Cowboys to a second consecutive Southland Conference regular-season championship, and earned the conference’s coach of the year award for the second straight season.
In 2023-24, the Cowboys won the conference tournament and qualified for the NCAA Tournament. The team went 30-4 overall and 17-1 in conference play. This season, McNeese is 27-6, and 19-1 in conference play. Two of the team’s losses, both by fewer than 10 points, came against then-No. 2 Alabama, and No. 25 Mississippi State.
Under Wade’s leadership, the Cowboys ranked in the KenPom top 75 in his two seasons at the helm. The team finished last season ranked No. 67 in the nation. It ranks No. 59 ahead of this week’s tournament game. He turned the program into one of the top mid-majors in the country after McNeese finished in the bottom 200 teams in 25 out of 27 years that KenPom has provided advanced analytics.
Wade holds a 246-105 overall record in his four head coaching stops and a 3-5 NCAA Tournament record, while guiding every program he’s coached to at least one 20-win season.
This story was originally published March 23, 2025 at 2:22 PM.
