Will Wade returns to LSU four years after FBI investigation led to his firing

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March 30, 2026

Next season of SEC basketball just got a whole lot more interesting.

After days of speculation, news broke Thursday morning that Will Wade is leaving NC State to return to LSU as head coach. Wade was fired by the school four years ago after an FBI investigation into paying players captured him on wiretaps discussing monetary offers.

BREAKING: NC State head basketball coach Will Wade is expected to leave for LSU, @PeteNakos and @JoeTipton report.https://t.co/O4gE7hAVpe pic.twitter.com/bEwR5FMzk4

— On3 (@On3) March 26, 2026

Wade was terminated after the 2021-22 season following multiple years of investigation, and after a year off of coaching, wound up taking the job at McNeese State. He led the Cowboys to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances before being hired a year ago at NC State.

Wade’s Wolfpack made the tournament, but were eliminated in the First Four.

Now, he heads back to the place where he was sent packing from a half decade later under a very new set of rules.

Meanwhile, the four seasons since LSU fired Wade have been a complete disaster, dropping down to arguably the worst basketball program in the conference.

They have gone 3-15 in conference play in each of the last two seasons under Matt McMahon and have had just one winning season.

Wade’s return is a major boost not only for LSU basketball, but for the SEC as a whole, as he looks to restore the Tigers to consistent contenders for conference titles and regular NCAA Tournament appearances.