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LSU basketball is inching closer to a major shakeup at the top of the program. On Wednesday, LSU's pursuit of NC State head coach Will Wade escalated. As reports trickled out, it became evident that a return to Baton Rouge is a strong possibility for Wade.
This isn't your typical coaching search -- it never is with LSU. For starters, the Tigers technically haven't fired Matt McMahon, the current head basketball coach in Baton Rouge. McMahon's job status has been in limbo for weeks as LSU is yet to officially inform McMahon of his future in Baton Rouge.
This wouldn't be Wade's first stint at LSU. He led LSU basketball from 2017-22 before a recruiting scandal led to his firing in 2022. Wade is the only coach to lead LSU to sustained success since John Brady in the early 2000s. Under Wade, LSU posted four straight winning seasons and went to the Sweet 16 in 2019.
McMahon took over for Wade in 2022 and faced a complete rebuild as LSU's entire team hit the portal, and potential recruiting sanctions loomed over the program. But even as LSU moved from Wade's shadow, the Tigers struggled to replicate the same success. McMahon has won a combined six SEC games in the last two years. Expectations for LSU basketball aren't sky high, but LSU doesn't want to live in the cellar of the SEC.
As of Thursday morning, here's a look at the latest on where LSU stands with Will Wade.
Cory Smith, an NC State beat writer for 247Sports, said Wade met with NC State on Wednesday to make one last push to keep Wade in Raleigh.
A key step in Wade's return to LSU is LSU's potential hire of McNeese AD Heath Schroyer. Schroyer would serve in a senior administrative role at LSU, working under AD Verge Ausberry. On3's Pete Nakos reported that "Will Wade is not returning to LSU without Heath Schroyer."
Schroyer was the AD at McNeese when McNeese hired Wade after Wade's controversial exit from LSU. Schroyer and Wade made McNeese a competitive program.
"The parting of the ways between LSU and Matt McMahon feels imminent. And Will Wade's official return is going to come, I believe, in a matter of days to Baton Rouge," Rothstein said.
To me, this doesn't feel all that different from the final days of LSU's pursuit of football coach Lane Kiffin. At this point, it feels inevitable that Will Wade will be LSU's next head coach. Local reporters and national reporters seem to agree, and it's rare to see this level of confidence fall flat.
LSU and NC State are probably patching up the buyout specifics of Wade's deal, and this will become official sooner rather than later.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Update: Latest reports on Will Wade and LSU basketball
Continue reading...
This isn't your typical coaching search -- it never is with LSU. For starters, the Tigers technically haven't fired Matt McMahon, the current head basketball coach in Baton Rouge. McMahon's job status has been in limbo for weeks as LSU is yet to officially inform McMahon of his future in Baton Rouge.
This wouldn't be Wade's first stint at LSU. He led LSU basketball from 2017-22 before a recruiting scandal led to his firing in 2022. Wade is the only coach to lead LSU to sustained success since John Brady in the early 2000s. Under Wade, LSU posted four straight winning seasons and went to the Sweet 16 in 2019.
McMahon took over for Wade in 2022 and faced a complete rebuild as LSU's entire team hit the portal, and potential recruiting sanctions loomed over the program. But even as LSU moved from Wade's shadow, the Tigers struggled to replicate the same success. McMahon has won a combined six SEC games in the last two years. Expectations for LSU basketball aren't sky high, but LSU doesn't want to live in the cellar of the SEC.
As of Thursday morning, here's a look at the latest on where LSU stands with Will Wade.
Is Will Wade going back to LSU? Here's the latest:
Cory Smith, an NC State beat writer for 247Sports, said Wade met with NC State on Wednesday to make one last push to keep Wade in Raleigh.
NC State AD Boo Corrigan and Will Wade met on Wednesday to make one final push to keep Wade in Raleigh.
Here's the scoop on how that discussion went and LSU's next move on Thursday.
: https://t.co/fYcebW9yiCpic.twitter.com/5aFSIe8yHi
— Cory Smith (@RCorySmith) March 26, 2026
A key step in Wade's return to LSU is LSU's potential hire of McNeese AD Heath Schroyer. Schroyer would serve in a senior administrative role at LSU, working under AD Verge Ausberry. On3's Pete Nakos reported that "Will Wade is not returning to LSU without Heath Schroyer."
Schroyer was the AD at McNeese when McNeese hired Wade after Wade's controversial exit from LSU. Schroyer and Wade made McNeese a competitive program.
Rothstein: Will Wade will be at LSU in a matter of days
"The parting of the ways between LSU and Matt McMahon feels imminent. And Will Wade's official return is going to come, I believe, in a matter of days to Baton Rouge," Rothstein said.
Potential timeline
To me, this doesn't feel all that different from the final days of LSU's pursuit of football coach Lane Kiffin. At this point, it feels inevitable that Will Wade will be LSU's next head coach. Local reporters and national reporters seem to agree, and it's rare to see this level of confidence fall flat.
LSU and NC State are probably patching up the buyout specifics of Wade's deal, and this will become official sooner rather than later.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Update: Latest reports on Will Wade and LSU basketball
Continue reading...
