Will Wade shuts down LSU rumors after the loss to Virginia

Earlier this week, we weighed in on why the Wade to LSU rumors and broke down why we believed them to be untrue.

Today, Will Wade addressed those rumors head-on.

A lot of talk with you and a potential position at LSU. I just wanted to see if anybody from that campus reached out to you?

Wade: “No. Is the job open there? No. Listen, let me be very clear. I’m excited at NC State. I was hired at NC State to do a job. This wasn’t going to take one year. I’ve already met with our administration about next year and some of the changes that we need to make, and some of the things that we need to do to put this program where it deserves to be long term. I’m not on social media. I’m not into gossip. I’m not into any of that sort of stuff.

Look, we’re going to win, and we’re going to win big at NC State. That’s what we’re going to do. That’s what we’re going to do moving forward. We have the resources we need to do it. That’s what we’re going to do moving forward. We have the job we need. We have what we need, and it’s on me and my staff to get the job done.

This year hasn’t gone exactly how we wanted it to, but we’re going to rally, and we’re going to work hard, and we’re going to have a team next year that’s ready to roll. ”

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This rumor has had a life of its own over the past 2 weeks. Here’s how it started…

An LSU message board user said he heard a Will Wade reunion rumor based on the McNeese State president getting hired at LSU. That post was then talked about on an NC State message board. That NC State post was picked up by a popular social media account that steals message board information and posts it as screenshots.

From there, it gets picked up by a popular local radio show around here. Then it eventually makes it to ESPN as an unsourced rumor that LSU is interested, while also noting they have no idea if Wade would even be open to the idea.

And now we have this post from Mike Scarborough, who owns a site called TigerBait.com.

He tweeted this…

What I’m Hearing: The LSU–Will Wade Situation Is No Longer ‘Impossible

The #LSU basketball situation has felt like a foregone conclusion for weeks. However, some recent developments and shifting conversations behind the scenes suggest the story may not be finished yet. Here’s… pic.twitter.com/L0StgDXiME

— Mike Scarborough (@ScarboroughMike) March 10, 2026

Here was our take on that from a few days ago…

Will Wade has spent the last four years working to shed a certain reputation and work his way back to this level.

You’re telling me he put in his time at McNeese, then sold NC State on “a new Will Wade,” just to quit on them after one year to chase money at the school that fired him?

Remember, NC State took a shot on Wade, and that fact wasn’t lost on him. He said this in his opening presser:

“I’d be lying if I told you I thought three years ago that I knew an opportunity like this would come again. I did not. I did not. I’m thankful.”

Sure, those are just words. But think about the optics here. They’d be horrible for Wade and his future career.

A guy trying to prove he’s learned a lesson — that it’s not “win at all costs,” and that winning doesn’t have to happen overnight. A guy trying to prove he’s a coach you can trust to build a program and do it the right way.

And he’s going to walk away after one year because things didn’t go exactly as planned and someone waved extra money in front of him?

Say whatever you want about Will Wade, but the guy understands perception and optics.

Yes, I understand the business side of things. I understand this is a new era. But doing this would fly in the face of everything he’s spent four years trying to rebuild.

He’s a young coach with a long career ahead of him, and a move like this would leave a mark. You have to believe he knows that.

But okay, let’s put the money aside for a second.

Wade just moved his family here. His wife — whose family lives just down the road in Charlotte — has reportedly enjoyed being closer to home. Wade even said it himself:

“She’s good. She’s enjoying it. She’s happy to be close to home in Charlotte, where her family is, and where all of my daughters’ friends are.”

So he’s going to move his family, burn the bridge with the school that gave him his second chance at coaching at the high-major level, all for more money?

Maybe I’m naive, but that’d be absolutely wild.

But today it’s clear. Will Wade is committed to NC State.

Now, can we get back to focusing on this NC State team that will almost certainly hear its name called on Selection Sunday?