
LSU has had a few men's basketball coaches in recent years, with Will Wade being the most recent. Wade was fired in 2022 after five seasons, during which the team advanced to four post-season tournaments, including consecutive NCAA tournaments in 2019, 2021, and 2022. Interim coach Kevin Nickelberry took over for the NCAA tournament in 2022. LSU has since hired David Patrick as associate head coach. Some names that have been floated as potential future head coaches include Aranda, Chadwell, Clark, and Traylor.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of Coach | Will Wade |
| Year | 2017-2022 |
| Achievements | Led the Tigers to a Southeastern Conference regular-season championship in 2019; Advanced to four post-season tournaments (including consecutive NCAA Tournaments in 2019, 2021 and 2022); In his last four seasons (2019-22), his squads won 48 regular-season SEC games, tied for the second-most of any team over that period; Ranked as the fourth-winningest coach in LSU Basketball history |
| Reason for Termination | Accused of five Level I NCAA violations and one Level II violation |
| Interim Replacement | Kevin Nickelberry |
| Associate Head Coach | David Patrick |
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What You'll Learn

Will Wade's departure
Wade's suspension was lifted on April 14, 2019, but he agreed to significant modifications to his contract, including forfeiting $250,000 in bonuses and allowing LSU to terminate his contract for specific NCAA violations. Despite the ongoing investigation, Wade led LSU to notable successes, including the 2018-19 team's first five SEC wins in a row and the 2021 Tigers' championship game of the SEC Tournament.
However, on March 12, 2022, Wade was terminated as LSU's coach after the NCAA formally served a notice of allegations. He received a two-year show-cause penalty for his recruiting and bribery violations. After leaving LSU, Wade was hired as the head coach at McNeese State University on March 12, 2023, where he led the team to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances.
Wade's departure from LSU was a significant event, given the team's success during his tenure and the ongoing investigations into his alleged recruiting violations. His exit created a vacancy that LSU sought to fill with a capable and reputable coach, with names like Bob Huggins and Donnie Tyndall being considered.
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David Patrick's appointment as associate head coach
LSU men’s basketball head coach Matt McMahon has announced the appointment of Sacramento State Head Coach David Patrick as Associate Head Coach. This will be Patrick's second stint at LSU, having served on the LSU staff for four years under coach Johnny Jones from 2012 to 2016. Patrick is a native of Bermuda who moved to Australia at the age of 10 and later to the United States in 1994 after playing with the Australian Junior National Team. He played his senior year of high school basketball at Chapel Trafton in Baton Rouge, leading Trafton to the state quarterfinals and being chosen as the Louisiana Player.
Patrick has nearly 20 years of coaching experience at the collegiate and international levels. Before rejoining LSU, he served as the head coach at Sacramento State for two seasons, leading the team to significant successes. Prior to that, Patrick was the head coach at UC Riverside from 2018 to 2020 and had stints as an assistant coach at various colleges, including TCU, Saint Mary's, and LSU itself. He also served as an associate head coach at Arkansas and Oklahoma, helping the teams achieve notable tournament results.
Patrick is recognised as a top-flight recruiter, having helped LSU secure a top 5 recruiting class in 2013 and 2015. His recruiting prowess includes landing highly ranked high school players such as Ben Simmons, Antonio Blakeney, and Brandon Sampson. Throughout his career, Patrick has recruited 11 players who have made it to the NBA, including seven draft picks, and has coached 28 players who have gone on to play professionally, 19 of whom have reached the NBA.
In addition to his collegiate coaching experience, Patrick has served as an assistant coach for the Australian National Team since 2019, helping them win a bronze medal at the 2021 Olympics, their first men's basketball Olympic medal. The team also achieved a historic win over the United States in the 2019 FIBA World Cup Final Four. With his extensive experience, strong recruiting skills, and a track record of success, Patrick is expected to bring new ideas, energy, and solutions to the LSU program.
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Potential candidates
LSU has had a few men's basketball coaches in recent years, with the latest being Will Wade, who was fired in 2022 after five seasons. Before Wade, Skylar Meade was the interim head coach for the 2016-17 season, Tony Benford was the interim head coach for the 2017 postseason, and Johnny Jones was the head coach from 2012-2017.
In 2022, LSU hired David Patrick as associate head coach. Patrick is known as a top-flight recruiter and helped bring LSU a top 5 recruiting class in 2013 and 2015. He has also coached in the Sweet 16 and Elite 8 rounds of the NCAA Tournament.
Kim Mulkey
Kim Mulkey is the current women's basketball coach at LSU. She has had a successful career, with a long list of accomplishments, including an 8-8 record as a head coach and defences ranked in the top five nationally in points or yards allowed five times at LSU, Wisconsin, and Utah State.
Jimbo Fisher
Fisher is a potential candidate for the job, having previously won a national championship at Florida State and serving as offensive coordinator at LSU from 2000-2006. He also has a good relationship with LSU AD Scott Woodward, who hired him at Texas A&M. However, he has a monster contract at Texas A&M, which may be a hindrance.
Joe Brady
Brady was previously credited with helping direct LSU's record-setting offence in 2019 as the Tigers' passing game coordinator. He has found success as an NFL assistant but is reportedly not a fan of the recruiting aspect of college games.
Lane Kiffin
Kiffin has had a long track record in college, with stints at USC, Alabama, FAU, and Ole Miss. He has the Rebels on the brink of their best season and is an offensive-minded coach.
Matt Campbell
Campbell is an increasingly popular name in coaching circles, with his stock rising after Iowa State beat previously unbeaten Oklahoma State. He has a small sample size as a head coach, but his accomplishments include a 75-45 record as a head coach (40-30 at Iowa State), a three-time Big 12 Coach of the Year, and leading the Cyclones to their first-place finish in the Big 12 standings in 2020.
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Previous hires
LSU has had several notable hires for its basketball head coach position in the past. In 2017, Will Wade was hired as the head coach of LSU's men's basketball team. Prior to joining LSU, Wade had served as the head coach at VCU and Chattanooga, and as an assistant coach at Harvard and VCU. During his five-year tenure at LSU, Wade led the Tigers to a Southeastern Conference regular-season championship in 2019 and four post-season tournament appearances. However, he was fired in 2022 due to accusations of significant misconduct and Level I NCAA violations.
In May 2024, LSU announced the hiring of David Patrick as the associate head coach for their men's basketball team. Patrick, a native of Bermuda, is known for his recruiting prowess, having helped bring top-tier recruits to LSU during his previous stint as an assistant coach from 2013 to 2020. Patrick has also had success as a Division I head coach and an assistant coach for the Australian National Team, winning a bronze medal at the 2021 Olympics.
In addition to these hires, LSU has also made other significant appointments for their basketball program. In 2021, athletic director Scott Woodward hired Kim Mulkey as the women's basketball coach, bringing a big name to the program. Mulkey had achieved notable success, including an 8-8 record as a head coach and leading defenses ranked in the top five nationally at multiple universities.
LSU has also considered several prominent coaches for their basketball program. Names such as Jimbo Fisher, Joe Brady, Ed Orgeron, and Aranda have been mentioned as potential candidates or previous coaches with varying levels of success and experience.
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The recruitment process
The process will likely involve a thorough review of potential candidates, considering their experience, achievements, and fit with the LSU program. The ideal candidate will have a strong track record of success, both in terms of winning records and player development. The ability to recruit top talent will also be a key factor, as LSU aims to compete with other prominent programs in the Southeastern Conference.
Several names have already surfaced as potential contenders. One of the more prominent candidates is Kim Mulkey, the current Baylor head coach, who has an impressive 8-8 record and has led her defenses to top-five national rankings. Another strong candidate is Iowa State head coach, Aranda, who has a 75-45 record as a head coach and was named Big 12 Coach of the Year three times. LSU may also consider up-and-coming coaches like Coastal Carolina's Chadwell, who has transformed his team into an offensive powerhouse, and UAB's Clark, who has a player-centric approach and has been successful in turning around the Blazers' program.
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Frequently asked questions
LSU's current basketball head coach is David Patrick.
Will Wade was the LSU men's basketball head coach before David Patrick. Wade was fired in 2022 after five seasons at LSU.
Will Wade was fired after being accused of five Level I NCAA violations and one Level II violation.
Some other potential candidates for LSU's basketball head coach include Aranda, Kiffin, Fisher, and Joe Brady.











































