Dominoes starting to fall that might affect NC State’s coaching search?

Ok, I’m going to keep this short because a lot of this is speculation and unconfirmed reports. But here it goes…

The situation right now, as it stands, is that most intel points to NC State and Will Wade trending toward a contract. However, that same intel speculates that no deal is signed as of yet and may not be until Wade’s McNeese State is out of the NCAA Tournament.

While all of that is positive for NC State, there is still the fear that another school is going to jump in or another job is going to open up that may complicate things. Again, that is just speculation and people not wanting to get their hopes up to high with the Wade news. I get it.

The schools being discussed as potential players for Will Wade are Indiana and Texas.

Let’s first discuss Indiana.

The scenario being floated around social media is that Brad Brownell leaves Clemson to take the Indiana job, opening up Clemson, which is Will Wade’s alma mater.

There are two reasons I don’t think this is going to happen. The first was talked about yesterday by Joey. Here is the excerpt I’m referring to.

Brownell, a self-described family man, has 2 daughters. Both of those daughters graduated from Clemson and live less than an hour from the University. They are both recently out of college, but is this the stage of life when you want to move away from your kids? Right when the potential weddings and babies start coming?

So he’s going to turn down a large extension from a school where he’s loved and where he’s built up a winning program, to go to IU where he’d have to start from scratch? And to do that he’d have to move away from his home of 15 years, out of the southeast where he’s spent 18 of his last 22 years, and away from his daughters who are just starting life after college.

I think that’s a long shot.

Brownell did grow up in Indiana and his parents still live there, but at this point, I think it’s a long shot.

And that long shot gets WAY longer when you start to see this popping up from reputable sources…

Hearing what could be a massive plot twist.

The mystery candidate for #IUBB could be the same guy rumored to be in Iowa today.

Told now twice by newer but on the level sounding sources that Darian DeVries will be the Indiana coach.

But still no sources inside IU.

Stay tuned!

— Coaching Changes (@CoachingChanges) March 17, 2025

This is a plot twist because Iowa sites were reporting that WVU head coach Darian DeVries was heading to Iowa to interview. However, @CoachingChanges has been one of the better sources this season when it comes to the musical chairs of coaching search season.

But the fact that Indiana seems to have their sights set on other coaches without any rumors of Brownell having interest or engaging in talks, tells you that the Brownell scenario doesn’t really have legs at this point. It’s just a hypothetical scenario.

Next, you have the Texas job.

This job has been talked about as being an eventual opening for months, but I wouldn’t be so sure. Texas just beat #25 Mississippi State and #14 Texas A&M down the stretch and are in the NCAA Tournament. Does this save Rodney Terry’s job?

If Texas beats Xavier, it might. But if they lose, then there is a chance you see Texas go a different route.

We’ve heard from the NC State side not to discount Sean Miller for the Texas job. Behind closed doors there have been some discussions in the past, and we’ve heard that it’s a job Miller is curious about.

Then just last week, his name emerged in @CoachingChanges feed.

Just once again heard Sean Miller’s name associated with the Texas opening.

Has been rumored at Texas since last time so no surprise but this is a recent mention of his name from a deeply connected source.

— Coaching Changes (@CoachingChanges) March 12, 2025

I believe if Texas makes a move, Miller may be the first target.

Either way, those nuggets have things playing out in a way that would be good for NC State if they are hoping to finish off the Will Wade deal and get him to Raleigh without any drama.