On the morning of March 9, 2025, NC State announced that men’s basketball head coach, Kevin Keatts, was fired. Additionally, they confirmed, “A national search for NC State’s next head coach will begin immediately.”

After the disappointing results from this year’s season, many Wolfpack fans were left frustrated about the program’s future. Winning the ACC Championship and making it to the Final Four in the NCAA championship last year brought a lot of hope for the team, but it was not enough. They finished the 2024-25 regular season with a 70-72 loss against the University of Miami, closing with a 5-15 conference record and failing to qualify for the ACC Tournament.

Keatts coached eight seasons at NC State, ending with a 151-113 record. The highest championship appearance during his time as head coach was last year’s NCAA tournament Final Four appearance, where they lost against Purdue University.

The 2023-24 season’s accomplishments earned Keatts a $400,000 raise, bringing his salary to $3.1 million. His contract also was extended through the 2029-30 season. While the announcement of his firing was sudden, it was no surprise that the accomplishments Keatts brought to the program were not enough to guarantee him his job. NC State was left having to buy him out for $8 million.

Shortly after, several sources shared rumors that NC State was in talks to hire McNeese State University’s head coach, Will Wade.

Before 12-seed McNeese’s impressive win against 5-seed Clemson University in the first round of the NCAA tournament, at a press conference, Will Wade confirmed that he was in contact with NC State.

On March 23, following McNeese State’s loss to Purdue in the second round of the NCAA tournament, NC State announced Will Wade signed a 6-year contract as head coach for the men’s basketball team. This makes him the 21st head coach of the NC State men’s basketball team.

Two days later, NC State held an introductory press conference for Wade at Reynolds Coliseum. Joined by Chancellor Randy Woodson and Director of Athletics Boo Corrigan, Wade made his plans for the team very clear.

“This is not a rebuild. We’re gonna be in the top part of the ACC next year and going to the NCAA tournament.” “We’re gonna play aggressive on both ends of the floor,” said Wade.

Wade’s coaching career has not been without controversy. His five-year tenure at Louisiana State University ended after being suspended once in 2019 and ultimately fired in 2022 amid allegations of Level I NCAA violations.

They alleged that Wade, in exchange for their enrollment into LSU, offered and/or issued prohibited payments to eleven prospective men’s basketball players, their family members, or those affiliated with them. Additionally, Wade reportedly failed to cooperate with the investigation.

In 2023, he took over as head coach at McNeese State. Due to his Level I NCAA violations, he served a 10-game suspension during his first season.

Even with the suspension, Wade led the team to two Southland Conference championship wins.
Despite his past, Wade’s hiring was met with excitement from Wolfpack fans, eager to see how he will revitalize the program.

When asked about his past, Wade acknowledged his mistakes, saying, “I’ve grown and matured since then, and you’re gonna get the best version of me here at NC State.”

Throughout the press conference, both Wade and Corrigan emphasized his personal growth. Corrigan stated, “I think the biggest thing for me was sitting with Will […] and asking a lot of really tough questions about what occurred. He was open, he was honest, talked about how he’s grown.”

Wade has big plans, not only for the team but also for the fanbase. During the press conference, he confirmed the NC State men’s basketball home opener is set for Nov. 3, 2025, and made it clear he wants a packed house. “I wanna sell out the Lenovo Center. 19,500 people. I want 19,500 people there. We need to send a message. We need to let the state, the ACC and the nation know the Pack is back and we are not to be messed with.”

With strong support from the Wolfpack, Wade is determined to make an immediate impact on NC State athletics.