Amanda Knapp
Frank William Will Wade is an American college basketball coach who served as the head men's basketball coach at LSU from 2017 to 2022. During his time at LSU, Wade led the Tigers to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2019, and the team won its first SEC title in 10 years. However, Wade's tenure at LSU was also marked by controversy, as he was suspended and later fired amid allegations of recruiting violations and Level I NCAA violations. Despite the allegations, Wade has been recognised for his coaching abilities, and in 2023, he was linked to the Ole Miss Rebels men's basketball opening.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Frank William "Will" Wade |
| Date of Birth | 26 November 1982 |
| Tenure at LSU | 2017-2022 |
| Record at LSU | 105-51 |
| SEC Record | 55-33 |
| NCAA Tournament Appearances | 3 |
| Best NCAA Tournament Result | Sweet Sixteen (2019) |
| Suspensions | Suspended for the final five games of the 2018-19 season and the first ten games of the 2023-24 season |
| Reason for Suspensions | Accusations of five Level I NCAA violations and one Level II violation |
| Fired | 12 March 2022 |
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What You'll Learn
Will Wade's tenure at LSU
Frank William "Will" Wade was named the head coach of LSU's men's basketball team on March 20, 2017. Prior to his appointment, Wade had served as the head coach at Chattanooga (2013-2015) and VCU (2015-2017).
During his five-year tenure at LSU, Wade's Tigers achieved consistent success, including winning a Southeastern Conference regular-season championship in 2019 and advancing to four post-season tournaments. They also won 20 or more games in three of his five seasons at the helm, finishing with a record of 105-51.
However, Wade's time at LSU was not without controversy. In March 2019, he was suspended indefinitely amid an FBI investigation into corruption in college basketball. Wade was accused of discussing improper benefits with a recruit, which was captured on a wiretap. He was reinstated in April 2019 after agreeing to significant modifications to his contract, including the possibility of termination for Level I or Level II NCAA violations.
In March 2022, Wade was fired as LSU's coach after the NCAA served a notice of allegations based on investigations into recruiting violations. He was accused of five Level I and one Level II violation, including providing impermissible cash payments to prospective student-athletes and their associates.
Following his dismissal from LSU, Wade faced a 10-game suspension for his next coaching role and was hired by McNeese State University in March 2023. Reflecting on his time at LSU, Wade expressed gratitude for the opportunity to coach at the university and acknowledged the need for personal growth, specifically mentioning the need to curb his arrogance.
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Will Wade's coaching career
Frank William "Will" Wade is an American college basketball coach. He currently serves as the head men's basketball coach at North Carolina State University.
Wade began his career as the student manager of the Clemson men's basketball team from 2002 to 2005. He worked under head coaches Larry Shyatt and Oliver Purnell, who gave him further opportunities as a graduate assistant and Director of Basketball Operations. In 2007, Tommy Amaker brought him in as his first hire as Harvard men's basketball coach.
In 2013, Wade left his assistant coaching position at VCU to lead the Chattanooga Mocs basketball program. In his two seasons as head coach, he posted both winning overall and conference records, and led the Mocs to their first 20-win season in 10 years. He was named the Southern Conference's 2014 Coach of the Year. After two seasons at Chattanooga, Wade returned to VCU as head coach. In his first season, he guided the team to its first Atlantic 10 Conference regular-season championship and a 25–11 overall record.
Wade was named the 22nd head coach of LSU prior to the 2017-18 season. During his five-year tenure, he led the Tigers to consistent winning and a return to prominence in the basketball program. Wade's Tigers won their first five SEC games in a row during the 2018-19 season and claimed two victories over top 5 opponents. They won the Southeastern Conference regular-season championship in 2019, advancing to four post-season tournaments. Wade finished his time at LSU with a record of 105-51 and 196 career wins as a head coach.
Wade was suspended for the final five games of the 2018-19 season due to his involvement in an FBI investigation into bribes and corruption in college basketball. He was reinstated after agreeing to significant modifications to his contract. Wade was fired from LSU in 2022 after the NCAA served a notice of allegations based on investigations into reports of recruiting violations.
After his departure from LSU, Wade was hired as the head coach at McNeese State University in 2023. He led McNeese to its first-ever NCAA tournament win in 2025 before signing a contract to become the head coach at NC State University.
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Will Wade's FBI wiretap
Will Wade, the former head coach of the LSU Tigers men's basketball team, was suspended and later fired from his position amid an FBI investigation into corruption in college basketball. The investigation, which began in 2017, exposed illegal recruiting practices by several coaches, including Wade.
In March 2019, it was reported that Wade had been caught on an FBI wiretap discussing an offer to a recruit. In the transcripts of the conversation, Wade is quoted as saying that he was frustrated with the situation, using explicit language to express his annoyance. The following day, LSU announced that Wade had been indefinitely suspended amid the FBI's probe.
In the wiretapped conversation, Wade spoke to aspiring business manager Christian Dawkins about a potential recruit, Javonte Smart. Wade admitted to making a "'strong-ass offer'" to Smart and suggested that LSU could compensate players better than the NBA rookie minimum. He said, "We could compensate him better than the rookie minimum. We'd give him more than the D-League."
The FBI investigation revealed that coaches were illegally paying for recruits, which is a violation of NCAA rules. Wade was accused of five Level I NCAA violations and one Level II violation. As a result, he was fired from his position as head coach of the LSU Tigers in March 2022.
The fallout from the FBI investigation had lasting impacts on college basketball. Three head coaches, including Wade, were fired from their jobs for their involvement in illegal recruiting practices. The investigation also led to the arrest of four assistant coaches and criminal charges for bribery against two others.
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Will Wade's suspension and firing
Will Wade was suspended by LSU in March 2019 after a federal wiretap revealed him discussing a "strong-ass offer" for a recruit. The following day, LSU announced that Wade was indefinitely suspended amid an FBI probe. However, after 37 days, Wade was reinstated and continued coaching the LSU Tigers for three more seasons.
In March 2022, the NCAA charged LSU with six Level 1 recruiting violations, which led to Wade's firing a day before the NCAA tournament selection show. Wade was accused of five Level I violations and one Level II violation. Associate men's basketball head coach Bill Armstrong was also accused of one Level I violation and one Level II violation.
Wade's final game at LSU was a loss to Arkansas in the SEC tournament, where he received a technical foul for arguing with officials in the first half. Overall, Wade's tenure at LSU was marked by consistent winning and a return to prominence for the basketball program. During his five years as head coach, the Tigers won a Southeastern Conference regular-season championship in 2019, advanced to four post-season tournaments, and finished with a record of 105-51.
Following his departure from LSU, Wade was hired as the head coach of the McNeese State Cowboys. However, due to the ongoing NCAA investigation, McNeese State preemptively suspended Wade for the first five games of the 2023-24 season, which was later doubled to 10 games by the NCAA.
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Will Wade's legacy at LSU
Frank William "Will" Wade was the head coach of LSU Tigers Men's Basketball team from 2017 to 2022. In his five seasons at LSU, Wade's record was 105-51, making him the fourth-winningest coach in LSU Basketball history.
Wade's tenure at LSU was marked by consistent winning and a return to prominence for the basketball program. During his time, the Tigers won a Southeastern Conference (SEC) regular-season championship in 2019, advanced to four post-season tournaments, and made consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances in 2021 and 2022. Wade's teams played an exciting brand of basketball, averaging 80.5 points per game.
Wade's success at LSU was, however, overshadowed by controversy. In 2019, he was suspended for the final five games of the season amid an FBI investigation into corruption in college basketball. Wade was accused of discussing improper benefits with a recruit, which was captured on a Federal wiretap. He was reinstated after agreeing to significant modifications to his contract, but the scandal hung over his remaining time at LSU.
In 2022, Wade was fired by LSU after the NCAA served a notice of allegations detailing significant misconduct. He was accused of five Level I NCAA violations, including impermissible payments to recruits and their families. This ended Wade's tenure at LSU, leaving a legacy of on-court success but also off-court scandal.
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Frequently asked questions
Frank William Wade.
Head coach of the LSU Tigers men's basketball team.
During his five-year tenure, the Tigers won a Southeastern Conference regular-season championship in 2019, advanced to four post-season tournaments, and advanced to an SEC Tournament championship game for the first time since 1993.
In 2019, Wade was suspended by LSU after allegations of his involvement in a scandal regarding illegal payments to the families of recruits surfaced.
Wade was reinstated in April 2019 after LSU officials determined he did not violate his contract. However, he was fired by LSU in 2022 amid ongoing investigations and accusations of five Level I NCAA violations.
