Report: LSU to name NC State's Wade as head coach after dismissing McMahon

LSU is parting ways with head coach Matt McMahon on Thursday and hiring NC State's Will Wade as its new bench boss, sources told CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein.

Wade previously served as the head coach at LSU from 2017 to 2022 but was fired after the university received a notice of allegations from the NCAA regarding rules violations committed during his tenure.

After being hired by McNeese State ahead of the 2023-24 season, Wade was handed a 10-game suspension and a two-year show-cause penalty for recruiting violations while at LSU. The Cowboys compiled a 50-9 record over two seasons under Wade, including a pair of trips to the NCAA Tournament.

Wade returns to Baton Rouge after leading NC State this past campaign. He guided the Wolfpack to a 20-14 record and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament, where they fell to Texas in the First Four.

The 43-year-old appears to have changed course after recently insisting he would stay at NC State.

"We're gonna win, and we're going to win big at NC State. That's what we're gonna do moving forward, and we have the resources we need," Wade said in early March, according to The Athletic's Brendan Marks.

Wade's buyout with NC State drops from $5 million to $3 million on April 1, but the sides could still negotiate a settlement, a source told Marks.

McMahon compiled a 60-70 record across four seasons at LSU and failed to lead the program to March Madness.

The Tigers finished the 2025-26 campaign at the bottom of the SEC standings with a 3-15 mark in conference play.