Former LSU basketball coach Will Wade is having quite a week. On Wednesday, it was reported that Wade would be the next head coach of NC State. On Thursday, Wade led McNeese State to its first NCAA Tournament win in program history, beating Clemson.
Wade coached at LSU from 2017-22. Wade led LSU to three NCAA Tournament births. That mark would have been four if the tournament wasn’t canceled in 2020. According to Sports Reference’s ratings, four of Wade’s teams were among the 12 best in LSU history. The highlight of Wade’s tenure was an SEC regular season title and Sweet 16 berth in 2019.
Wade’s tenure at LSU came to an end in 2022 after the NCAA delivered a Notice of Allegations detailing recruiting violations surrounding the LSU basketball program. Wade was fired.
A few months later, NIL was introduced. To this day, Wade was the last basketball coach to be fired for recruiting violations.
When Wade took center stage on Thursday, leading McNeese to a win, LSU fans had some thoughts about their former coach. Here’s how social media reacted to Wade’s upset of Clemson.
How LSU fans and media reacted to Will Wade leading McNeese to a March Madness win
Will Wade is one of the most deserving coaches.
Was amazing to student media in his time at LSU and I’ll always root for that man.
— Andre Champagne (@andrechampagnee) March 20, 2025
I can’t believe LSU fired Will Wade to stop the NCAA from maybe giving them one year of a postseason ban in football in a year they played in the Citrus Bowl lmao.
— Max Toscano (@maxtoscano1) March 20, 2025
It’s this type of passion LSU basketball has been missing these past 3 years. Will Wade was worth the price of admission by himself.
— TorresOnLSU (@TorresOnLSU) March 20, 2025
Will Wade getting caught on an FBI wiretap has to be one of the most unlucky things in #LSU history. He produced four straight NCAA Tournament teams at #LSU (2020 tournament canceled because of COVID) but coached in just one NCAA Tournament. The whole thing just sucks. Blah. 😑
— Jacques Doucet (@JacquesDoucet) March 20, 2025
Will Wade has made the NCAA Tournament at McNeese the same amount of times Matt McMahon has gotten invited to the NIT at LSU.Will Wade has won a NCAA Tournament game at McNeese before Matt McMahon won a NIT game at LSU.
They needed to protect football, but still frustrating…
— Mik’d Up (@Mikdup_8) March 20, 2025
Congratulations to McNeese State for already winning as many March Madness games under Will Wade’s leadership as LSU did
— Evan Saacks (@evansaacks) March 20, 2025
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: Will Wade upsets Clemson | How LSU fans reacted on social media
