General Will Wade is officially back in the boot as LSU Men’s Basketball Head Coach.
LSU hosted an open press conference on Monday in the Pete Maravich Center to welcome him back, as hundreds of fans and boosters attended the event to see what Wade will say.
After a buyout of $4 million and signing a seven-year deal worth $30 million, Wade is home and people can’t wait to see what he can accomplish for the team, as bringing home a National Championship is on his mind.
“I have no doubt that Coach Wade will once again have success in Baton Rouge,” said Vice President of Athletics Verge Ausberry. “In this new era of college sports, he understands the ever-changing dynamics of talent, recruitment and retention, of player development and the game of basketball.”
“He believes in building programs that expect to win. He believes in developing young men to become productive citizens of society. He understands organizational structure and the chain of command. He believes that culture matters every single day.“
“It takes a big personality to coach in the SEC, and especially under the spotlight of LSU. We want coaches who embrace the expectations and want them. Will is here for the challenge.”
Wade was brought to LSU for one reason and one reason only: to win and make history. He wants to make a difference with the program and believes he can do it this time around.
“We’re coming back to try to hang a banner, win a National Championship, or I’m going to be the first coach fired from the same school twice,” Wade said.
“These last four years have humbled and changed me. You’re getting a better coach, a better leader this time around. I’ve got the same urgency. I’ve got the same fight, same feisty guy that you’ve always known, but we’re going to be better.”
“I came here to win, and we’re going to win immediately. LSU and Louisiana deserve a winner, and that’s what we’re going to deliver and we’re going to deliver that in short order.”
When Wade left back in 2022, he didn’t think it was possible for him to come back after being fired, but you can’t count out anything in life. He knows LSU is his home and he’s the best coach for the university.
“This isn’t about nostalgia,” Wade said. “This is about being a great fit. This was the best university for me to coach at. I believe I’m the best coach for this university and men’s basketball, and we’re going to test that theory, and we’re going to prove ourselves right.”
Wade feels there’s some unfinished business at LSU as he feels like he owes the fans and students after his departure. He’s hoping to come back and make LSU Basketball more lively again, which starts with building an excellent program.
“I’ve never connected with a fan base and with people like I have with LSU and Louisiana. I feel like we left the book open a little bit. We left some chapters out there, and we left some chapters unfinished.”
“I came back to give back to LSU and to hopefully put some joy and to put some fun back into basketball where we’re not just a stopgap between football and baseball, and to make sure we build a program that’s excellent, just like everything else.”
“I want to build a program that’s worthy of investment and worthy of all the folks here. I’m excited to be back and excited to represent LSU and Louisiana again.”
As the transfer portal opens soon, Wade is expecting to have a heavy hand in what’s decided and who to pick to make his team great.
