Sun Mar 23 17:00:00 UTC 2025: **NC State Lands McNeese State’s Will Wade as New Men’s Basketball Coach**
RALEIGH, NC – The ACC coaching carousel continues to spin, with NC State making a significant splash. Just two weeks after firing Kevin Keatts, the Wolfpack have hired Will Wade, head coach of McNeese State, on a six-year deal. The move comes on the heels of McNeese State’s impressive NCAA Tournament run, which included an upset victory over Clemson before ultimately falling to Purdue.
Keatts’ dismissal follows a dramatic year that saw NC State reach the Final Four in 2023 but miss the ACC Tournament entirely in 2024, finishing 16th in the expanded 18-team conference. Wade, considered a top candidate for the position even before the tournament began, is expected to bring a new level of intensity to the program.
CBS Sports analyst Wally Szczerbiak issued a warning to the rest of the ACC, stating, “ACC better watch out because Will Wade is coming.” Szczerbiak’s comment highlights the impact Wade’s McNeese State team made against a top ACC opponent.
While the Wolfpack’s future remains to be seen, the hiring of Wade signals a bold attempt to revitalize the program and make a quick return to ACC contention. The team also reportedly anticipates that McNeese State manager Amir Aura Khan will join Wade in Raleigh.
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