Former LSU Coach Will Wade Linked To Ole Miss Men's Basketball Opening
Ole Miss basketball will need a new coach following the firing of Kermit Davis, and one name has emerged as a favorite for the opening.
According to reports, former LSU coach Will Wade has begun to "generate traction" in connection with the opening. Wade was fired late last season by LSU amid serious charges from the NCAA regarding alleged recruiting violations committed during his tenure with the program.
From a coaching standpoint, Wade, 40, might be considered an upgrade over Davis. In his five seasons with the Tigers, Wade posted a 105-51 overall record and finished with a 55-33 record in the SEC. Wade led the Tigers to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet Sixteen appearance in 2019.
Wade, however, was suspended by LSU during the NCAA Tournament that season after the allegations surrounding former guard Javonte Smart were made public for the first time.
Wade also coached at Chattanooga (2013-15) and VCU (2015-17) prior to his arrival in Baton Rouge, and led the Rams to back-to-back tournament appearances. All-time Wade has a 196–96 record.
According to Joe Goodman of Stadium.com, the Rebels also could be linked to former Texas coach Chris Beard and current Florida Atlantic coach Dusty May. May previously coached under Mike White at Florida from 2015-18 before being hired by the Owls that offseason.
Beard was fired earlier this year following allegations of domestic abuse. In December, the second-year Longhorns coach was arrested after being accused of choking his fiancee. Since the firing, all charges have been dismissed against Beard after the fiancee declined to cooperate with the prosecution.
Should Wade end up being the hire, there could be massive ramifications from the NCAA. The investigation against Wade still is ongoing, and Wade could be hit with a show-cause penalty, making it nearly impossible for him to be hired by a program.
A show-cause penalty means that any punishment bestowed on the coach could potentially carry over to a new program if hired.
Davis was fired following a five-year run in Oxford. He led the Rebels to one tournament appearance in 2018-19, where they lost to No. 9-seed Oklahoma in the Round of 64. Davis finished his time at Ole Miss with a 74-79 record, losing nine of his last 10 games.
"We thank Coach Davis for his dedication to the Ole Miss basketball program and our student-athletes," Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter said in a prepared statement. "No one wanted to bring a title home to Mississippi more than him, and we appreciate the passion for that goal that he shared with our team every day. As he has throughout his career, Coach Davis worked tirelessly to produce a winner, and we wish him, Betty and his family the very best in the future."
Ole Miss never recovered following Davis' first season. The Rebels went 6-12 in SEC play during the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season. A year later, they finished sixth in the conference with a 16-12 record, but only made it to the NIT.
Last season, Ole Miss finished 13th in the SEC with a 13-19 record.
"My family and I are extremely thankful for the opportunity to lead the Ole Miss men's basketball program the past five years," Davis said in the school's news release. "We appreciate Chancellor (Glenn) Boyce, Keith Carter, the staff and players for their support and work ethic on behalf of our program, and I wish Ole Miss the best going forward. Oxford is a special place to live and work."
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