Will Wade Set to Return as LSU Head Coach

Lake Charles, Louisiana (KNGT-FM) - After years of mediocrity, LSU is turning to a familiar face to RE-BOOT the LSU Men's Basketball program.

With no surprise, LSU is expected to announce former coach Will Wade as the next men's basketball coach. Wade will return to Baton Rouge after spending two seasons in Lake Charles at McNeese and a brief stint in Raleigh, N.C. at N.C. State.

Per reports, Wade has agreed to a 7-year deal to make his return to Baton Rouge.

McNeese Athletics

The word you will hear a LOT over the next few weeks: ALIGNMENT.

What does alignment mean in this scenario? It's simple. All of the wheels that were set to be in motion less than a year ago have been in motion over the last year, all to set up the triumphant return of Will Wade.

Governor Jeff Landry began the push to get Wade to Baton Rouge in early 2025 when Landry was pushing LSU officials to move on from Matt McMahon and hire Wade directly from McNeese. They declined and, in turn, leaked the N.C. State deal.

Since then, LSU has hired McNeese President Wade Rousse as the University's President, Lee Mallet has been named the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, John Condos has also been named to the Board of Supervisors, and as of Thursday, McNeese Athletics Director Heath Schroyer has been named the Senior Deputy AD at LSU.

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Now the reunion of the former McNeese brass is no longer a dream, but soon to be a reality.

With Heath Schroyer officially accepting the role inside the LSU athletic department, that clears the path for Will Wade. All reporting out of Raleigh and Baton Rouge indicated that Wade will don the sidelines of the Pete Maravich Assembly Center next season.

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Now the question that I keep getting is, "Are You Surprised?" That answer is simply, no. For those who have followed the McNeese-LSU story over the last year or more, it comes as no surprise. It actually all falls in line, and maybe even a year late.

The reality is, a lot has changed since Wade donned the sidelines of the PMAC.

The thing that has changed most of all? Will Wade.

During his time at McNeese, Wade had a lot of time to reflect on his college basketball journey throughout the years, and he'll be the first to tell you that the firing changed his life in some ways for the better.

“Everything’s not life or death. Every recruit is not life or death. We can move on. There are other people,” said Wade during his time at McNeese. “Everything’s not nearly as important, maybe, as I thought it was at the time. Now, don’t get me wrong, basketball and winning are very, very important, but I have a little bit, you know, I have a little bit better perspective now on where that fits in the grand scheme of things.”

Now, we will wait for official news from LSU Athletics, but The General is coming home.