Stones of the Yarra Valley

Will Wade bolts NC State after one year for LSU return

· Yahoo Sports

The reckoning has turned purple, and N.C. State fans were left seeing red.

Men's basketball is in the market for a new coach after Will Wade made it official on Thursday that he will be leaving Raleigh for Baton Rouge.

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"I would commiserate with them in terms of feeling lied to," N.C. State Athletic Director Boo Corrigan said of supporters.

That followed rampant speculation that Wade would return after being fired from LSU in 2022 after getting a notice of allegations that detailed significant misconduct.

Wade announced his decision to leave Raleigh and return to LSU on Thursday afternoon.

"I was as surprised and shocked as anyone else as this occurred, based on the previous conversations that we had had," Corrigan said at an afternoon news conference.

WATCH: Boo Corrigan's full news conference

Full news conference: N.C. State Athletics Director speaks on Will Wade's stunning exit from Raleigh after just one season.

Corrigan detailed his disappointment about Wade's apparent about-face and opened his news conference by quoting former Wolfpack football legend Phillip Rivers, saying, "Wolfpack ain't for soft people."

A feeling of betrayal shrouded Wolfpack Nation after Will Wade jumped ship after just one season.

He also spoke about a discussion he had with Wade on Tuesday night to discuss the future of the program.

"There was no reason for me in my job not to believe the words that I was hearing coming back to me from Coach Wade," Corrigan said.

But the following day, Wade apparently had other plans -- a reversal that stood in stark contrast to previous statements of commitment Wade had made.

"I believe a number of people may have been at the ACC Tournament where the answer was a definitive, I'm going to be here. After we lost in the ACC Tournament to Virginia, there was another confirmation. After the NCAA tournament, there was another confirmation," Corrigan said.

After the Wolfpack's loss to Virginia in the ACC Tournament, Wade was asked about the LSU job. His reply included noting that the job at the time wasn't open.

On Thursday afternoon, LSU fired fourth-year coach Matt McMahon, opening the door to welcome back Wade.

His agent sent an email informing the school of Wade's resignation. Ultimately, the parties agreed on a $4 million buyout. enabling Wade to finalize the head coaching job at LSU.

"As far as the resignation letter, it was an email, right, that we received from his agent,: Corrigan confirmed.

When Corrigan was asked if he believed there was any contact between the two sides during the season, he replied, "I guess the question you need to ask LSU, and you need to ask Coach Wade. I've got my own thoughts on where we are. I know that the number of times we had conversations about the job, including one time where it was, 'Do we need to talk about this?' And the answer was no."

The Wolfpack made it into a First Four game for the NCAA tournament this year before losing to Texas.

"I was hired at NC State to do a job. This wasn't going to take one year," Wade said after the loss to Virginia as he motioned toward Corrigan at the back of the news-conference room. "I've already met with our administration about next year and some of the changes that we need to make and some of the things that we need to do to put this program where it deserves long-term."

Exactly two weeks later, Wade was gone.

Alex Nunnally, a member of the Wolfpack's 2024 ACC championship and Final Four team, said that despite the disappointment, there is reason for optimism moving forward.

"It's still a fantastic job and a fertile recruiting ground, and one of the best conferences, especially basketball conferences, in the country," Nunnally told ABC11. "So while it hurts a lot in the moment, especially with the unexpected nature of it, this is something that I do feel like a program like NC State can bounce back from and actually probably get a coach that maybe fits what the university is looking for a little bit better."

NC State Chancellor Kevin Howell released a message about the basketball program on Thursday afternoon.

"NC State's men's basketball program has a rich and storied history with numerous ACC and national championships to our credit. As your chancellor, an alum and fellow fan, I am excited about the future of our program.

"I'm confident that Athletic Director Boo Corrigan will hire an outstanding men's basketball coach to lead our program and student athletes. Our goal is to win championships, put a strong and competitive team on the court, and help our student-athletes become better players, students and people.

"To our committed, passionate supporters, you remain the strength of the pack."

Wade posted a statement on social media, writing in part, "This was not an easy decision, because of how much respect and appreciation I have for this university. But the opportunity to return to Louisiana State University is deeply personal. It's a chance to go home to a place that means a great deal for me and my family."

Those words rang hollow for scores of N.C. State fans on social media, who expressed in no uncertain terms their feelings for Wade and his actions.

Wade's lone season in Raleigh started with the coach confidently predicting a "reckoning" for the ACC and college basketball at his introductory news conference, coming a year ago Wednesday. He promised the Wolfpack would be in the top part of the ACC standings and reach the NCAA tournament -- both goals of which were accomplished in a season that started with promise but faded badly.

Notably, N.C. State stood at 18-6 overall and 9-2 in the ACC as of Feb. 7 before losing six of seven to close the regular season, including a 41-point loss at Louisville, a 29-point loss at Virginia and another 29-point loss at home to Duke.

The team finished 20-14 with a 10-8 record in ACC play in Wade's one-and-only season in Raleigh.

This story will be updated.

- The Associated Press contributed.

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