Will Wade has been named the head men’s basketball coach at McNeese State.

The former LSU coach was out of coaching for exactly 1 year. The Tigers fired Wade for cause on March 12, 2022 as a result of LSU formally receiving a notice of allegations from the NCAA.

Wade’s tenure at LSU was marred by controversy and a lengthy NCAA investigation. Wade went 105-51 as LSU’s head coach.

At McNeese State, Wade will take over a program that hasn’t made the NCAA Tournament since 2002. Still, his new program has high expectations for results moving forward.

“This is a completely different job than it was three years ago,” athletic director Heath Schroyer said in a press release. “McNeese Basketball is one of the best jobs in the nation in regards to one-bid leagues. We are funded at the top of the league, have the best facility, a passionate fan base and many other built-in advantages. I will not make excuses for why we can’t win and win big. Quite frankly, there is no excuse.

“The days of us celebrating making conference tournaments or accepting mediocrity in all of our sports, let alone in basketball, are over.”

According to college basketball insider Jeff Goodman, Wade could still face sanctions as a result of his tenure with LSU.