In an awkward series of events, the LSU Tigers are bringing back their former basketball coach on a multiyear deal.
It wasn’t the cleanest execution of a hire, but the LSU Tigers have reunited with their former head basketball coach who they fired four years ago. Despite not yet having fired sitting coach Matt McMahon, which the Tigers did on Thursday, they began their courtship of current NC State head basketball coach Will Wade, per ESPN. That move became official on Thursday when LSU announced the hire that brings Wade back to Baton Rouge. It put an end to, or may have validated, rumors that circulated for months while Wade publicly remained committed to Wolfpack throughout the ACC Tournament. The deal is reported for seven years, as first reported by Jeff Goodman, and ESPN reports that it will be worth a little less than $5 million per year.
Wade was fired from the program after five seasons 2022 after investigations by the NCAA and FBI that dug into some monetary recruiting violations. He left with a 105-51 record and three NCAA tournament appearances, including a would-be fourth in the cancelled 2020 tournament. He leaves NC State after taking over for Kevin Keatts and signed a six-year contract for over $17 million. The Wolfpack went 20-14 in what will be Wade’s sole season as their head coach. It’s the latest of big moves by the university after hiring Lane Kiffin, a move that will cost the Tigers more than $40 million.
Here is the full story from LSU Roundtable writer Dylan Sanders on the massive reunion and what it means for Tigers men’s basketball.
It’s a move that will prove costly having to pay McMahon’s buyout, and they’ll owe over $8 million to McMahon due to agreeing to a seven-year deal in 2022 to bring stability to the program amid the scholarship and recruiting restrictions due to Wade. It’s one that the Tigers hope will pay off.