US (Washington Insider Magazine) – Will Wade is an American basketball coach. Wade got hired as the coach at McNeese on March 12, 2023. He worked as the head coach of the Louisiana State University (LSU) men’s basketball team. Wade has also served as the head coach of the men’s college basketball teams at Chattanooga and Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) before joining LSU. He began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Clemson University in 2005.
Biography
Will Wade is an American college basketball coach. He was born on November 26, 1982, in Nashville, Tennessee. Wade attended Clemson University, where he played basketball for the regular season with Tigers from 2001 to 2005. After graduating, he began his coaching career as an assistant coach at Clemson under head coach Oliver Purnell. He then served as an assistant coach at Harvard, VCU, and Chattanooga before being named the head coach at Chattanooga in 2013.
Coaching Career Chattanooga
Basketball coach Will Wade, the current head coach of the LSU men’s basketball team, did not begin his coaching career at Chattanooga. However, he did spend four seasons as an assistant coach at Chattanooga from 2002 to 2005, and then again in the 2006-2007 season. During his time at Chattanooga, Wade helped the team achieve a 57-44 overall record and make two appearances in the Southern Conference Tournament Championship game.
After his time at Chattanooga, Wade went on to coach at several other universities, including Harvard, VCU, and now LSU. He has had success at each stop, leading VCU to a Final Four appearance in 2011 and guiding LSU to the NCAA Tournament in each of the last three seasons. Overall, Wade has a career coaching record of 190-84.
VCU Career
Will Wade began his coaching career at VCU in 2009, where he served as an assistant coach for four seasons under head coach Shaka Smart. In 2013, he left VCU to become the head coach at Chattanooga for two seasons before being hired as the head coach at VCU in 2015.
During his two seasons as head coach at VCU, Wade led the team to a 51-20 overall record and a 28-8 mark in conference play. He also guided the Rams to back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances, including a trip to the second round in 2017.
Despite his success at VCU, Wade left the program in March 2017 to become the head coach at LSU. His departure was met with some controversy. He was criticized for leaving VCU in the middle of the recruiting cycle. Overall, Will Wade’s coaching career at VCU was brief but successful and helped to lay the foundation for his continued success as a head coach at LSU.
Coaching Career In LSU
Will Wade served as the head coach of the LSU Tigers men’s basketball team. He was hired in March 2017, after previously coaching at Chattanooga and VCU. In his first season at LSU, Wade led the team to an 18-15 record and an NIT appearance. Wade’s second season at LSU was more successful, as he led the team to a 28-7 record, an SEC regular season championship, and a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA tournament.
However, his coaching career at LSU has been marred by controversy, as he was suspended for part of the 2018-2019 season due to his involvement in an NCAA recruiting scandal. Despite the controversy, Wade has continued to coach at LSU and has had some successful seasons. It remains to be seen how his coaching career at LSU will continue in the future.
Head Coaching Record
Will Wade’s head coaching record in NCAA Division I men’s basketball was as follows:
- At Chattanooga (2013-2015): 40-25 overall, 22-12 in conference play
- At VCU (2015-2017): 51-20 overall, 28-8 in conference play
- At LSU (2017-2021): 76-38 overall, 34-26 in conference play
Overall, his head coaching record was 167-83 (66.8% winning percentage) in six seasons as a head coach. However, it should be noted that Wade was suspended for part of the 2018-2019 season by LSU due to his involvement in an NCAA recruiting scandal.
Salary
Will Wade’s annual base salary is around $2.5 million. This salary places him among the highest-paid coaches in the SEC and the NCAA. However, it’s important to note that coach salaries can fluctuate based on a variety of factors, including team performance and market demand.
Net Worth
Will Wade’s net worth is estimated to be around $5 million. However, it’s important to note that net worth can fluctuate over time. Various factors such as salary, bonuses, investments, and other sources of income can make a change.
