One thing is for sure: Will Wade's introductory press conference in his tumultuous return as LSU men's basketball coach certainly didn't disappoint. For roughly 30 minutes, a somewhat-defiant, somewhat-unbothered Wade cracked jokes about his controversy-filled previous tenure as Tigers coach, promised to win—and win some more—and addressed his abrupt exit from NC State. He spent one season with the Wolfpack and angered the school's fan base while leaving athletic director Boo Corrigan “disappointed” after indicating he wasn't leaving the program while speculation about LSU lingered in the air throughout the season.
That speculation became reality on March 26, when Wade took to X and announced he was leaving the Wolfpack for the Tigers, with whom he had spent five rocky seasons from 2017 to ‘22, highlighted by three trips to the NCAA tournament, one suspension, and one NCAA probe that ultimately slapped LSU with sanctions and led to his firing in 2022.
