ALL the DETAILS of Will Wade’s 6-Year Contract as NC State’s Men’s Basketball Coach

On March 22nd, news broke that NC State had signed Will Wade to a 6-year contract to be their next Men’s Basketball Coach. Until today, we didn’t know the details of the contract.

Here’s the nuts and bolts of the contract:

6 years = $17.25 million

Annual Salary Breakdown

2025-26 salary = $2.5 million
2026-27 salary = $2.65 million
2027-28 = $2.8 million
2028-29 = $2.95 million
2029-30 – $3.1 million
2030-31 – $3.25 million

Possible Annual Bonuses

Between Possible Competitive Team Achievement Bonuses & Academic Bonuses, Wade can earn up to $2 million annually in bonuses.

Competitive Team Achievement Bonuses: Up to $1.7 million

Conference or Regular Season Wins (Not cumulative. Max Bonus = Highest Level of Achievement)

Win 10 Conference or 18 Regular Season Games = $37,500
Win 12 Conference or 20 Regular Season Games = $75,000
Win 14 Conference or 22 Regular Season Games = $112,500
Win 16 Conference or 24 Regular Season Games = $150,000

ACC Regular Season Champion = $100,000

ACC Tournament Seed Bonus: 1-4 = $100,000

ACC Tournament Bonuses by Round (Not cumulative. Max Bonus = Highest Level of Achievement)

1st Round Appearance = $5,000
2nd Round Appearance = $10,000
Quarterfinal Appearance = $25,000
Semifinal Appearance = $50,000
Championship Game Appearance = $75,000
Tournament Champion = $100,000

NCAA Tournament Bonuses by Round (Not cumulative. Max Bonus = Highest Level of Achievement)

First Four = $50,000
Round of 64 = $75,000
Round of 32 = $125,000
Sweet 16 = $250,000
Elite 8 = $375,000
Final Four = $500,000
Championship Game = $750,000
NCAA Champion = $1 million

Final Top-25 Bonuses (AP or Coaches) (Not cumulative. Max Bonus = Highest Level of Achievement)

Ranked in the Top-25 = $50,000
Ranked in the Top-10 = $100,000

ACC Coach of the Year (ACC Sports Media Association) = $50,000

National Coach of the Year (ESPN, USA Today, AP, Sports Illustrated, Naismith College Coach of the Year Award) = $100,000

Academic Bonuses: Up to $300,000 

Federal Graduation Rate (Not cumulative. Max Bonus = Highest Level of Achievement)

Single Year Federal Graduation Rate – 70-79% = $25,000
Single Year Federal Graduation Rate – 80-89% = $50,000
Single Year Federal Graduation Rate – 90-99% = $75,000
Single Year Federal Graduation Rate – 100% = $100,000

Graduation Success Rate (Not cumulative. Max Bonus = Highest Level of Achievement)

Four Year Graduation Success Rate – 70-79% = $25,000
Four Year Graduation Success Rate – 80-89% = $50,000
Four Year Graduation Success Rate – 90-99% = $75,000
Four Year Graduation Success Rate – 100% = $100,000

Academic Progress Rate (Not cumulative. Max Bonus = Highest Level of Achievement)

Single Year Academic Progress Rate – 970-979 = $25,000
Single Year Academic Progress Rate – 980-989 = $50,000
Single Year Academic Progress Rate – 990-999 = $75,000
Single Year Academic Progress Rate – 1000 = $100,000

Buyout

NC State will pay McNeese St. $1 million to satisfy Wade’s current financial obligations owed.

Buyout Owed to NC State if Wade Leaves

Buyout owed to NC State prior to 4/1/26 = $5 million
Buyout owed to NC State prior to 4/1/27 = $3 million
Buyout owed to NC State prior to 4/1/28 = $2 million
Buyout owed to NC State prior to 4/1/29 = $1 million