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By Logan Brown
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It's safe to say NC State didn't see the departure of head coach Will Wade coming after suffering a defeat in the First Four. While the NCAA tournament continues into the Sweet Sixteen, coaching openings around the nation are starting to create some drama.
Just one year after signing a six-year deal to coach the Wolfpack, Wade decided on Thursday to make a jump back to LSU, where he previously coached from 2017 until 2022. NC State was left to pick up the pieces, and like many fans, NC State athletic director Boo Corrigan wasn't pleased by the sudden move.
"Tuesday night, we talked about everything in the program," Corrigan said in a press conference. "I asked him what we needed to be competitive. From there, as far as the resignation, it was an email that we received from his agent.
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I"'d commiserate with (fans), in terms of feeling lied to," Corrigan added. "And I'd let them know that I'm as surprised as they are by what's gone on."
After leading the Wolfpack to a 20-12 record, Wade has now inked a seven-year deal with the Tigers. It's the second search for a new coach in two years for Corrigan, and he's now hoping to "find a coach that understands who we are.”
The problem right now is that the Wolfpack isn't the top job available, so Corrigan might have to be creative in finding a new leader. North Carolina parted ways with Hubert Davis after the Tar Heels fell in the tournament, and Kansas could soon have an opening if Bill Self decides to retire.
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LSU's decision to bring back Wade was mildly surprising for another reason as well. Wade was fired in 2022 after investigations revealed multiple Level 1 NCAA violations. However, his success at McNeese State and now NC State has made him a worthwhile risk for the Tigers, who clearly aren't afraid to cause drama in coaching searches after the controversial hiring of Lane Kiffin.
LSU fired coach Matt McMahon on Thursday and Wade's hiring was announced shortly after. The search for a new coach at NC State starts now.
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