Former LSU men’s basketball head coach Will Wade will return to replace Matt McMahon after just one year at NC State.
He signed a seven-year deal, said Jon Rothstein at CBS Sports.
McMahon was fired Thursday morning without cause, triggering an $8 million buyout, according to Shea Dixon at On3.
McMahon was named head coach after Wade was terminated in 2022 for offering student-athletes impermissible benefits.
Wade went a combined 105-51 overall and 56-33 in the SEC in his four seasons, including an SEC regular season championship in the 2018-19 season. His teams also made three NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 appearance in that 2019 tournament.
Since being let go from LSU in 2022, Wade has coached at McNeese and NC State, bringing each school to the NCAA tournament at least once.
McMahon led the LSU men’s basketball program for four years. In his first, he saw the team win two SEC games and finish last in the conference. Despite the next year’s strong SEC play, non-conferences losses kept LSU out of the big dance.
The decision from Athletic Director Verge Ausberry comes after LSU finished last in the SEC this season and was eliminated in the first round of the SEC tournament, losing 87-82. It’s the second time LSU finished last in the conference under McMahon.
LSU was also one of two teams from the conference to not make the NCAA Tournament.
McMahon and LSU finished the season 15-17, with a 3-15 mark in SEC play. A lowly 17-55 conference record takes the spotlight of the McMahon era. Nine of those were in the 2023-24 season alone. He went 60-70 overall.
LSU has never been ranked with McMahon as head coach.
His postseason record and general postseason absence carries a stench across his time at LSU. His teams went 1-4 in the SEC tournament and had an embarrassing loss to North Texas at home in the first round of the National Invitational Tournament in 2024.
His buyout from the university will be $8 million.
Wade’s return seemed possible once former Athletic Director Scott Woodward, the man who fired him, parted ways with the university after firing Brian Kelly.
Wade Rousse, the president at McNeese during Wade’s time, is also now the president at LSU. LSU has hired McNeese Athletic Director Heath Schroyer as a senior athletic administrator.
It was reported by leave in Nakos on Wednesday that Wade wouldn’t return to LSU without Schroyer.
Both Rousse and Schroyer brought Wade to McNeese in 2023 and are now bringing him to LSU.
He will be another polarizing coach added to LSU’s arsenal, joining the spotlight with Kim Mulkey, Lane Kiffin and Jay Johnson.
The General is back.
Will Wade will speak at his first press conference back Monday at noon.
