NC State & Coach Kevin Keatts’ officially Confirm A massive Beneficial News Following The NCAA Tournament
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)
N.C. State has officially announced that Will Wade from McNeese is the new men’s basketball coach for the Wolfpack.
The announcement came on Sunday, following McNeese’s second-round loss to Purdue in the NCAA Tournament just a day earlier.
Wade will be introduced at a news conference on Tuesday, marking a week where he was notably candid about his discussions with N.C. State, unlike many coaches who often deflect when asked about potential job changes.
This hiring, which includes a six-year contract pending approval from the university trustees, has been widely anticipated.
Athletic director Boo Corrigan expressed confidence in Wade, stating, “Will told me that he believes he can win at NC State… and ‘win big.’ It didn’t take me too many conversations with him to believe it too.”
Wade’s latest NCAA Tournament experience ended with his McNeese team facing Purdue, just two days after a notable upset victory over his alma mater, Clemson. His two years in Lake Charles, Louisiana, signify a strong return to coaching after being dismissed from LSU in 2022 amid allegations of recruiting violations linked to a federal corruption investigation that began in 2017, which also entangled N.C. State.
Taking on the N.C. State role will be a new challenge for Wade, especially within the Atlantic Coast Conference, which is undergoing significant changes as several prominent coaches have recently retired or departed.
Additionally, he will need to navigate the competitive Triangle region of North Carolina, home to UNC, Duke, and N.C. State, which together hold 13 NCAA championships and are all located within a short drive of each other.
Despite the challenges, the 42-year-old Wade appears unfazed, boasting a successful coaching resume that includes eight seasons with 20 or more wins in his 11 years as a head coach.
“I am incredibly excited and honored to be selected to lead the Wolfpack basketball program,” Wade stated. “N.C. State’s storied tradition, dedicated fan support, and its location in one of the finest cities in the country make this an ideal job, and I can’t wait to dive in.”
Wade takes over from Kevin Keatts, who was let go after eight seasons on March 9. This decision came less than a year after Keatts led N.C. State to its first Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament title since 1987 and its first Final Four appearance since the legendary Jim Valvano’s “Cardiac Pack” made an unexpected run in the 1983 NCAA tournament.
During his time, Keatts secured three NCAA tournament invitations for N.C. State and had them poised for another chance before the COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of March Madness in 2020. However, this season’s disappointing 12-19 record ultimately diminished any lingering excitement from last year’s remarkable success.
This situation prompted the university to part ways with Keatts, despite him having a contract that ran until April 2030, which would cost N.C. State approximately $ 6.9 million in base salary. It represents a reset for the program, particularly regarding financial strategies for assembling the roster, especially with players now able to benefit from their athletic fame and upcoming revenue sharing starting next season.
Wade’s coaching career began with a two-year position at Chattanooga from 2013-2015, followed by two NCAA tournament bids in two seasons at VCU before he joined LSU in 2017. His time with the Tigers peaked in his second year when LSU clinched the Southeastern Conference regular-season championship and reached the Sweet 16.
After leaving LSU, Wade resumed coaching duties at McNeese in 2023, where his tenure started with NCAA penalties, including a 10-game suspension at the beginning of his first season. Nonetheless, his teams at McNeese achieved 58 wins over two seasons, representing a significant turnaround for a program that had won only 56 games in the five years before his arrival.
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