LAKE CHARLES – Will Wade is back in the college coaching ranks — a year after losing his job at LSU amid allegations of recruiting violations.
McNeese Director of Athletics Heath Schroyer announced on Sunday the hiring of the former LSU head men’s basketball coach as the Cowboys new head coach. Wade replaces John Aiken who was let go on Wednesday after two seasons and compiling a 22-45 overall record.
McNeese announced on Sunday that a formal introduction will be held Monday at noon in the Legacy Center. The public is encouraged to attend and the first 200 McNeese students will receive free box combos from Raising Canes. Doors will open at 11 a.m.
“I’m so excited to welcome Coach Wade, his wife Lauren and daughter Caroline to Southwest Louisiana and McNeese,” Schroyer said in a statement. “This is a completely different job than it was three years ago. McNeese Basketball is one of the best jobs in the nation in regards to one-bid leagues. We are funded at the top of the league, have the best facility, a passionate fan base and many other built-in advantages. I will not make excuses for why we can’t win and win big. Quite frankly, there is no excuse.”
Schroyer added, “The days of us celebrating making conference tournaments or accepting mediocrity in all of our sports, let alone in basketball, are over.”
In his five seasons at LSU, the Tigers won a Southeastern Conference regular season championship in 2019, advanced to four post-season tournaments (including consecutive NCAA Tournaments in 2019, 2021 and 2022), reached the Sweet 16 in 2019, and advanced to an SEC Tournament championship game for the first time since 1993.
Despite a success on the court, Wade’s tenure at LSU came to an end a year ago when the university fired him a week after receiving a Notice of Allegations from the NCAA regarding alleged recruiting violations, which included seven Level I violations connected to the program.
Wade was also suspended by LSU for the final five games of the 2018-19 season after comments about recruiting were made public.
In the conversation with Christian Dawkins — which was part of a FBI wiretap — Wade made the famous “strong expletive offer” statement. Assistant coach Tony Benford took over for Wade and led them to the Sweet 16. Benford is credited for the wins and losses during that stretch.
The wiretap conversation was also featured in the HBO documentary “The Scheme.”
After being reinstated, Wade agreed to changes to his contract which would allow LSU to fire him for cause if the NCAA infractions committee issued a formal notice that Wade had been involved in a Level 1 or Level 2 violation. Once that noticed was filed to LSU in 2022, the univeristy then fired Wade as head coach.
Prior to LSU, Wade directed VCU to a 51-20 record and two NCAA Tournament appearances in 2015-2016 and 2016-2017. The 2016 Rams advanced to the second round of the tournament, defeating seventh-seed Oregon State before losing to Oklahoma.
Wade also served as the head coach at Chattanooga for the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons. The Mocs went 40-25 overall and 27-7 in league play.