LSU Adds Former SEC Head Coach to Basketball Staff

Will Wade brings on Rick Stansbury as associate head coach after returning to lead the Tigers.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 2:56pm

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A cubist-style painting featuring overlapping geometric shapes and planes in shades of blue, orange, and green, conceptually representing the changes to LSU's basketball coaching staff.A fragmented, cubist-inspired illustration captures the reshuffling of LSU's basketball coaching staff as the program looks to rebound under new leadership.Memphis Today

LSU basketball coach Will Wade has added former Mississippi State head coach Rick Stansbury to his staff as associate head coach. Stansbury, who has over 20 years of SEC coaching experience, most recently served as an assistant at Memphis under Penny Hardaway.

Why it matters

The addition of Stansbury, an experienced SEC coach, is an important early move for Wade as he rebuilds the LSU program after being fired in 2022. Stansbury's track record of success at Mississippi State, including six NCAA Tournament appearances and two SEC titles, could provide valuable leadership and stability to Wade's staff.

The details

Stansbury, 66, was the head coach at Mississippi State for 14 seasons from 1998 to 2012, compiling a 293-166 record and making six NCAA Tournament appearances. He was named SEC Coach of the Year in 2004. After leaving Mississippi State, Stansbury had stints as the head coach at Western Kentucky and as an assistant at Texas A&M and Memphis. His hiring at LSU reunites him with Wade, who is in the early stages of rebuilding the Tigers' program after being fired in 2022.

  • Stansbury was most recently an assistant coach at Memphis from 2022 to 2024.
  • Stansbury was the head coach at Western Kentucky from 2016 to 2023.
  • Stansbury was the head coach at Mississippi State from 1998 to 2012.

The players

Will Wade

The head coach of the LSU men's basketball team, who is rebuilding the program after being fired in 2022.

Rick Stansbury

A former 14-year head coach at Mississippi State, where he compiled a 293-166 record and won two SEC titles. He is joining Wade's staff at LSU as the associate head coach.

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What they’re saying

“'Staffs have gotten so big now. We're not going to have the biggest staff in the world. I don't want to have 100 people running around and walking on top of each other. But we're going to have our shell recruiting staff in place here in ... hopefully by the first of next week.'”

— Will Wade, LSU Head Coach

What’s next

Wade plans to have his full coaching staff in place by the start of the transfer portal window on April 15, as he continues to rebuild the LSU program.

The takeaway

The addition of veteran SEC coach Rick Stansbury to Will Wade's staff at LSU is an important early move as Wade looks to quickly rebuild the Tigers' program after his own firing in 2022. Stansbury's wealth of experience and success in the conference could provide valuable leadership and stability to Wade's staff.