Kristian Ferrell
Frank Williams Wade, born on November 26, 1982, is an American college basketball coach. He is currently the head men's basketball coach at North Carolina State University. Will Wade started his career as the student manager of the Clemson men's basketball team from 2002 to 2005. He has previously held coaching positions at Chattanooga, VCU, LSU, and McNeese State.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Frank Williams Wade |
| Date of Birth | November 26, 1982 |
| Alma Mater | Clemson (2005) |
| Career Record | 11 Years, 246-105, .701 W-L% |
| Schools | Chattanooga (40-25), Virginia Commonwealth (51-20), Louisiana State (105-51), North Carolina State University, and McNeese State (50-9) |
| Conference Champion | 4 Times (Reg. Seas.), 2 Times (Tourn.) |
| NCAA Tournament | 7 Years (5-7), 0 Final Fours, 0 Championships |
| Awards | 2013-14 Southern COY, 2x Southland COY |
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What You'll Learn
Will Wade's career as a college basketball coach
Frank Williams Wade, born on November 26, 1982, is an American college basketball coach who currently serves as the head men's basketball coach at North Carolina State University. Wade embarked on his coaching career as the student manager of the Clemson men's basketball team from 2002 to 2005, working under head coaches Larry Shyatt and Oliver Purnell. During this period, he gained experience as a graduate assistant and Director of Basketball Operations.
Wade's first coaching role was at Harvard University, where he served as an assistant coach for two seasons. In 2013, he took on the position of assistant coach at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), before soon transitioning to the head coach position at Chattanooga. During his two-year tenure at Chattanooga, Wade led the team to their first 20+ win season in a decade and was recognised as the Southern Conference's 2014 Coach of the Year.
Wade returned to VCU as head coach in 2015, guiding the team to their first Atlantic 10 Conference regular-season championship and a 25–11 overall record. In 2017, he accepted the head coach position at Louisiana State University (LSU), where he achieved his 100th career victory. During the 2018–19 season, Wade's Tigers won their first five SEC games consecutively and secured victories over top-ranked opponents Kentucky and Tennessee. However, his time at LSU was marred by allegations of recruiting violations, resulting in his suspension and eventual termination in 2022.
Following his departure from LSU, Wade was hired as the head coach at McNeese State University in 2023. Despite a suspension for the first 10 games of the 2023–24 season due to previous violations, Wade has continued to pursue his coaching career and has earned accolades such as the Southland Conference Coach of the Year, Louisiana Coach of the Year, and NABC District 22 Coach of the Year in 2024.
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Coaching at Chattanooga, VCU, LSU, and McNeese State
Will Wade's coaching career began at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where he was head coach from 2013 to 2015. During his time at Chattanooga, Wade accumulated a 40-25 record.
In 2015, Wade took over as head coach at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). He spent two years at VCU, compiling a 51-20 record.
Wade's next stop was Louisiana State University (LSU), where he served as the head coach from 2017 to 2022. During his time at LSU, Wade achieved notable successes, including leading the 2018-19 team to the Southeastern Conference regular-season championship and winning his 100th career victory on December 28, 2017. However, his tenure at LSU was also marred by controversy. In 2019, Wade was suspended for the final five games of the season due to allegations of recruiting violations. He was reinstated after agreeing to modifications in his contract, but the investigation into the violations continued. Wade was ultimately terminated as LSU's coach on March 12, 2022, following a formal notice of allegations from the NCAA.
Most recently, Wade was hired as the head coach at McNeese State University in 2023. In his first year, he was suspended for the first 10 games of the 2023-24 season and received a two-year show-cause penalty for the violations that occurred during his time at LSU. Despite this setback, Wade went on to have a successful season, being named the 2024 Southland Conference Coach of the Year, Louisiana Coach of the Year, and NABC District 22 Coach of the Year.
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Achievements as a head coach
Will Wade is an American college basketball coach who currently serves as the head men's basketball coach at North Carolina State University. He has had a successful career as a head coach at various universities, achieving numerous accolades and milestones.
One of his earliest head coaching roles was at Chattanooga, where he led the Mocs basketball program from 2013 to 2015. In his two seasons there, he achieved winning overall and conference records and led the team to their first 20+ win season in a decade. This outstanding performance earned him the title of Southern Conference's 2014 Coach of the Year.
Wade then moved on to Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) as head coach from 2015 to 2017. In his first season, he guided VCU to its first Atlantic 10 Conference regular-season championship and a 25–11 overall record. The team also made it to the championship game of the A10 conference tournament and advanced to the round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament, further solidifying Wade's reputation as a skilled head coach.
On March 21, 2017, Wade took on the role of head coach at Louisiana State University (LSU). During his time at LSU, he achieved several notable milestones. On December 28, 2017, he earned his 100th career victory with a win over Memphis. In the 2018–19 season, Wade's Tigers won their first five SEC games in a row, a feat that hadn't been accomplished at LSU since the 2005–06 season. They also secured victories over top-ranked opponents Kentucky and Tennessee, making LSU the first team to do so since 1980. Wade's Tigers went on to win the Southeastern Conference regular-season championship that season.
Despite these successes, Wade's tenure at LSU was not without controversy. In 2020, reports surfaced of an ongoing investigation into alleged recruiting violations. This ultimately led to his termination as LSU's coach in March 2022.
After his departure from LSU, Wade was hired as the head coach at McNeese State University in March 2023, showcasing the continued demand for his coaching expertise.
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Suspension from coaching
The CBA (Collective Bargaining Agreement) between the NBPA (National Basketball Players Association) and the NBA outlines the appeal process, allowing any party (player, team, NBA, or NBPA) to appeal a suspension exceeding 12 games or a fine greater than $50,000 to an arbitrator. The arbitrator can then uphold or reject the commissioner's decision. It is important to note that the player discipline arbitrator cannot lift or shorten a suspension but can only modify the associated financial penalty.
In addition to players, coaches, and assistant coaches can also be suspended or fined for violating specific rules. For example, if ejected from a game, they must immediately leave the playing area and remain in the team's dressing room or exit the building. Non-compliance results in an automatic fine of up to $50,000 and possible forfeiture of the game.
While the NBA has moved away from permanent bans after the NCAA scandals of 1951 and 1961, long-term suspensions or permanent bans are still possible for egregious behaviour, such as substance abuse or gambling. The NBA's anti-drug policy, established in 1983, enforces a ban after three illegal drug use offences, with the option for players to apply for reinstatement after a minimum of two years.
The NBA also maintains a strict policy on steroids and performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs). The first violation results in a 25-game suspension and mandatory entry into the SPED Program. A second violation leads to a 55-game suspension and mandatory treatment. A third violation results in immediate dismissal and disqualification from the NBA.
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Will Wade's early life and career
Frank Williams Wade, born on November 26, 1982, in Nashville, Tennessee, is an American college basketball coach. He is currently the head men's basketball coach at North Carolina State University.
Wade's interest in basketball began at a young age. He was raised in a family that valued education and athleticism, and his upbringing emphasized discipline, teamwork, and leadership—principles he would later apply to his coaching philosophy. Wade attended Clemson University, where he was the student manager for the men's basketball team from 2002 to 2005, marking the beginning of his coaching career. He worked under head coaches Larry Shyatt and Oliver Purnell, who offered him positions as a graduate assistant and Director of Basketball Operations.
After graduating from Clemson in 2005, Wade was hired by Tommy Amaker as his first recruit for the Harvard men's basketball coaching team. He stayed at Harvard for the 2007–08 and 2008–09 seasons before leaving for Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in 2009. At VCU, Wade served as an assistant coach under Shaka Smart, helping the team achieve four consecutive postseason appearances, including a trip to the 2011 Final Four. In his four years as an assistant coach, VCU had an impressive record of 111–37, with three straight trips to the NCAA Tournament.
In 2013, Wade left VCU to become the head coach of the Chattanooga Mocs basketball program. During his two seasons at Chattanooga, he led the team to their first 20+ win season in a decade and was named the Southern Conference's 2014 Coach of the Year. Wade then returned to VCU as the head coach in 2015, guiding the team to its first Atlantic 10 Conference regular-season championship with a 25–11 record.
Wade's successful coaching career continued as he took on the role of head coach at Louisiana State University (LSU) in 2017. During his time at LSU, Wade's Tigers won a Southeastern Conference regular-season championship in 2019 and advanced to four postseason tournaments. He was terminated as coach in 2022 due to allegations of recruiting violations. Despite this setback, Wade's coaching prowess remained in demand, and he was hired to coach at McNeese State University in 2023.
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Frequently asked questions
Will Wade's alma mater is Clemson.
As of March 22, 2025, Wade is the head coach at North Carolina State University.
Will Wade has 11 years of coaching experience.
