Tue Mar 25 20:40:00 UTC 2025: ## McNeese State’s Coaching Search Sparks Controversy
**LAKE CHARLES, LA** – McNeese State University’s search for a new men’s basketball coach following Will Wade’s departure to NC State has raised eyebrows. The Cowboys, who enjoyed recent NCAA Tournament success under Wade, are reportedly considering candidates with questionable pasts, including former Tennessee head coach Donnie Tyndall.
According to Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman, Tyndall is among several names on McNeese’s list, alongside former West Virginia coach Bob Huggins and former NBA coach Sam Mitchell. However, Tyndall carries significant baggage. He was investigated by the NCAA while still at Southern Miss, resulting in a finding of academic fraud. This led to his dismissal from Tennessee after just one season and a record-breaking 10-year show-cause penalty from the NCAA – the longest ever handed out at the time.
The penalty, which prevents Tyndall from coaching until the end of the 2025-26 season, makes his hiring by McNeese highly improbable. Even if hired, the Cowboys would face significant restrictions during his first season. Despite his checkered past, Tyndall boasts a respectable coaching record, including multiple NCAA Tournament appearances with Morehead State and an NIT appearance with Southern Miss. The situation highlights McNeese’s willingness to take a gamble on a high-risk, high-reward coaching prospect, a strategy that paid off once with Wade but could prove far more problematic with Tyndall.
First Piper 