Departing McNeese Coach Shares Teary Locker Room Speech After Missing Sweet 16

Grab the tissue box for this one.

Will Wade speaks to the McNeese men's basketball team after NCAA tournament loss on March 22, 2025. / Bleacher Report / X / Screensho

Even with the now-viral aura of student manager Amir Khan, the McNeese State Cowboys were eliminated from the 2025 NCAA men's basketball tournament by the Purdue Boilermakers in a 62–76 loss on Saturday.

And though any loss is a tough pill to swallow, this defeat surely hit a little extra, as it marks the end of head coach Will Wade's time with the Cowboys; both he and (reportedly) Khan are leaving to join NC State next year.

As such, it was an emotional scene in the locker room after the fact, as Wade tearfully and emotionally addressed his grieving squad.

"You guys made it happen. You guys did it," the coach said. "I'm proud of all of you. I love every one of you," he continued, through sniffles and voice cracks.

"Everybody, man. You guys are awesome. ... You guys carried us, man."

As Wade spoke, the camera panned around the room; the players looked just as upset as he sounded.

Take a peek at that below:

Players and coaches were emotional after Will Wade spoke with McNeese one final time 🥺😢

Wade is taking the HC job at NC State next season pic.twitter.com/drrrHuBwSi

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 22, 2025

While it would have been fun to see No. 12 seed McNeese make a longer run, it looks like it just wasn't meant to be this year. No. 4 seed Purdue, meanwhile, will now advance to play the winner of Houston-Gonzaga in the Sweet 16.

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