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Will Wade Returns to LSU with Self-Deprecating Joke
The newly rehired Tigers coach pokes fun at his messy first departure from the program.
Mar. 27, 2026 at 4:42am
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Will Wade was all smiles when he landed in Baton Rouge on Thursday, returning to the LSU basketball program he was fired from four years ago amid NCAA violations. In his first public appearance, Wade briefly spoke to reporters, joking, "They're gonna kill me if I start answering questions. I'm trying to follow more rules this time." The comment was a self-deprecating reference to the circumstances of Wade's previous departure from LSU, which involved allegations of paying recruits.
Why it matters
Wade's return to LSU is notable given the messy way his first stint as head coach ended, with the school firing him in 2022 due to NCAA violations. His self-aware joke about "following more rules" this time suggests he is aware of the need to rebuild trust with the program and its fans after the previous controversy.
The details
Will Wade was hired as LSU's head basketball coach in 2017 and led the team to three NCAA tournament appearances, including the program's first SEC regular-season title in a decade in 2019. However, his tenure ended abruptly in 2022 when LSU received an NCAA notice of allegations related to Wade paying recruits, including a wiretapped conversation where he discussed a "strong-ass offer" to a prospect. As a result, LSU fired Wade, and he received a two-year show-cause penalty from the NCAA.
- Will Wade was first hired as LSU's head coach in 2017.
- In 2019, Wade led LSU to its first SEC regular-season title in a decade.
- In 2022, LSU fired Wade amid NCAA violations related to paying recruits.
- In 2023, Wade served a 10-game suspension while coaching at McNeese State.
- On March 27, 2026, Wade returned to LSU as the program's new head coach.
The players
Will Wade
The new head basketball coach of the LSU Tigers, returning to the program he was fired from in 2022 amid NCAA violations.
Boo Corrigan
The athletic director of NC State, who criticized Wade for not informing him until the last minute that he was leaving the Wolfpack to return to LSU.
What they’re saying
“They're gonna kill me if I start answering questions. I'm trying to follow more rules this time.”
— Will Wade, Head Coach, LSU Tigers
“I would commiserate with [the fans] about being lied to.”
— Boo Corrigan, Athletic Director, NC State
What’s next
Wade is expected to hold an official press conference in the coming days to discuss his return to LSU and his plans for the program.
The takeaway
Will Wade's self-deprecating joke about "following more rules" this time signals his awareness of the need to rebuild trust with the LSU program and its fans after the messy circumstances of his previous departure. His return to the Tigers comes with heightened scrutiny, but also an opportunity to prove he has learned from past missteps.
