Will Wade was hired to be the head coach of McNeese State on Monday. But Wade will have to start the 2023-24 NCAA season away from the bench.
Wade will have to serve a five-game suspension at the beginning of next season. The former LSU coach signed a five-year contract with the Cowboys, but must first complete the requirements of his previous suspension.
Wade was fired from LSU after allegations from the NCAA that listed five Level I violation accusations, as well as one Level II. Wade was accused of offering cash payments to at least 11 players.
After an ugly ending to his tenure with the LSU Tigers, Will Wade is looking to get back on the right track with McNeese State. After allegations suggesting that Wade offered cash to numerous players, Wade was relieved of his duties as head coach of the program.
Now at McNeese State, Wade will have to walk a fine line when it comes to getting out of the spotlight of the NCAA. He will first have to fulfill the previous punishment from his time as the head coach of LSU. The suspension was listed as a term in the new contract for Wade with McNeese State. According to Matthew Travis of KPLC News, the suspension also prohibits him from off compaus "recruiting related activities through July 31st"
Wade had an impressive rise up the coaching ranks throughout his career at the collegiate level. After becoming the head coach At Chattanooga in 2013, Wade went on to take over the VCU program from 2015-2017. From there, Wade was the man in charge at LSU from 2017-2022.
He has a career coaching record of 196-96. Wade will now look to McNeese State back to the NCAA tournament, somewhere they haven't been since 2002.
