Making A Case For Will Wade As Arkansas’ Next Coach

Once a can’t miss up-and-comer, former LSU coach ready big leagues again

Author:
Jacob Davis
Apr 05, 2024

In this story:

Wade

LSU Tigers

NCAA Tournament

Arkansas Razorbacks

SEC

Eric Musselman

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Emerging as one of the top young coaches in the country, Will Wade was once thought of as a can’t miss coaching prospect early on. His teams have made six NCAA Tournament appearances in 10 seasons as a head coach. Wade has never recorded a losing season and has won 20 games or more in seven seasons.

The 41-year-old has led three programs to regular season conference championships (Virginia Commonwealth, LSU and McNeese State). After sitting out one season following the FBI probe into the corruption of college basketball, Wade returned to the sideline with the Cowboys, leading them to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2005 and a 12-seed in the NCAA Tournament against five-seed Gonzaga. WIth such an epic season in Lake Charles, Wade was awarded his second conference coach of the year award 10 years after his first with Chattanooga.

He remains active in the transfer portal looking to build his McNeese State program into one of the elite mid-majors in the sport. The Cowboys won 30 games this season and recorded the school’s first winning season since 2011-2012.

Navigating His Past Transgressions

Sure, he has a show-cause due to recruiting violations that are now considered legal by the NCAA called ‘Name, Image and Likeness’, ahem. Despite all the outside noise, Wade led his LSU team to the SEC Championship game and a No. 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers made it to the second round before being sent home by top seeded Michigan.

After a first round tournament exit and NCAA sanctions coming, Wade was fired on March 12, 2022 after being served the program's violations.

Wade’s show-cause penalty runs from June 22, 2023, to June 21, 2025.

That means that Arkansas would pick up McNeese State’s job of ensuring his nose stays clean by demonstrating reason as to why Wade shouldn’t be held to restrictions including no off-campus recruiting related activities during any April or summer related activities and/or contact period. The Razorbacks would lose four official visits during the 2024-25 academic calendar. No recruiting conversations can take place until Oct. 15, 2024 and Wade will be suspended for the first 10 games of the 2024-25 season, but will be allowed to coach in all exhibition games or practice scrimmages.

Stout Recruiting

During Wade’s final season at LSU, the TIgers brought in the No. 8 recruiting class and No. 5 transfer class. Wade signed three Top 100 recruits in Efton Reid, Justice Williams and Brandon Murray. Another 4-star recruit in true center Jerrell Colbert signed with the team out of IMG Academy. Guards Adam Wright (Illinois), Xavier Pinson (Missouri) and forward Tari Eason (Cincinnati) transferred in to bolster LSU’s depth.

LSU’s 2020 recruiting class was ranked No. 4 nationally by 247sports. It was headlined by 5-star Cameron Thomas from the famed Oak Hill Academy in Virginia. He was ranked in the Top 25 and one of the best shooting guards in his class. He has gone on to have a successful NBA stint after one season in Baton Rouge, Thomas is averaging a career-high 22 points per game in his third season.

Wade’s 2018 class ranked No. 4 in the country and was headlined with a pair of 5-star forwards in Naz Reid and Emmitt Williams. Guards Javonte Smart and Darius Days were a duo which torched the Razorbacks on several occasions. Even JUCO small forward signee burned Arkansas once with a then career-high 21 points during his first season with the Tigers.

He’s A Winner

It’s quite easy to understand the allure of Wade. The man loves to win and produces at a high level. LSU and McNeese State have never been considered basketball powers in a football driven state. He has taken both schools to conference championships and won big at both places including an exceptional 16-2 mark with the Tigers in 2018-2019 and went 17-1 with the Cowboys this season.

Arkansas would give Wade every instrument necessary to ensure his success in Fayetteville. It certainly doesn’t matter what kind of facilities or arena teams play in anymore. With proper NIL backing, Wade will be able to recruit well and be successful at least during the regular season and snag NCAA Tournament bids.

Although Wade has won everywhere he’s been in the past decade, he has failed to advance past the Sweet 16. Even with his SEC championship winning squad, the Tigers were dumped by Michigan State for a chance in the Elite Eight. Solid nonetheless, but Arkansas is likely looking for a coach who can push them past the second weekend and into immortality which is the Final Four.