If Will Wade Leaves After One Year, It Would Be Unprecedented in NC State History

The forecast is pointing toward NC State head coach Will Wade potentially jumping ship after just one season of his 6-year deal to return to LSU, where he previously coached from 2017-22.

If that happens, it won’t just be surprising. It would be borderline unprecedented.

How Rare Is This?

For a Power 4 head coach to leave after one season for another job, without being fired or retiring, is almost unheard of.

The only example in recent memory is Darian DeVries, who left West Virginia after one season to take the Indiana job last season.

Has this Ever Happened at NC State?

To understand just how rare this would be, you have to go way back.

Dating back to the 1924-25 season, there has only been one instance where an NC State men’s basketball head coach left after just one full season.

That coach?

Press Maravich

After the 1965-66 season, Maravich left NC State.

Where did he go?

LSU.

Yes, really.

History is practically copying and pasting.

Maravich’s lifelong dream was to coach his son, “Pistol” Pete Maravich, one of the greatest guards in college basketball history. There was one problem. Pete couldn’t meet NC State’s academic standards.

LSU solved that problem… and offered Press a raise to $15,000.

The Distinction

Technically, Maravich had already been acting as head coach the season prior, after Everett Case stepped down two games into the year due to health concerns.

In that season (1964-65), Maravich:

• Went 21-5 overall
• Won the ACC Tournament
• Beat #8 Duke in the title game
• Won ACC Coach of the Year

The following year, Maravich led the Wolfpack to an 18-9 overall record in his lone full season.

So while he only had one full season as the official head coach, he wasn’t exactly a one-year experiment.

If Wade leaves after one season?

He wouldn’t just be “another example.”

It would be the only true instance in modern program history