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Wade to be next LSU basketball coach

When LSU was in its search for a new head football coach last November, Houston coach Tom Herman was a prime candidate.

Tigers Director of Athletics Joe Alleva was impressed by the up-and-coming Herman. However, Alleva was unable to make a deal with Herman, who opted to take the Texas job.

Four months later, Alleva was involved in a head basketball coaching search. One again, an up-and-coming coach caught Alleva’s attention. This time, Alleva was able to deliver his choice.

LSU has announced that 34-year old VCU head coach Will Wade will take the same position at LSU. Reportedly, Wade has agreed to a six-year contract.

The deal was probably made Monday after Clemson announced that it was retaining head coach Brad Brownell. Wade, a Clemson graduate, would have been its top candidate to replace Brownell. So, unlike the situation with Herman, LSU’s main competition for Wade did not have an opening.

Wade was an assistant for Tommy Amaker at Harvard and Shaka Smart at Virginia Commonwealth. Wade was the head coach at Chattanooga for two seasons in which time the Moccasins had a 40-25 record, including a 27-7 mark in the Southern Conference.

When Smart was hired by Texas, VCU selected Wade to be his replacement. In two seasons at VCU, Wade had a 51-20 record, including a 28-8 mark in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The Rams tied for the A-10 title in 2016.

Three of Wade’s four teams advanced to national postseason tournaments. His first Chattanooga team lost in the first round of the CIT. Both of his VCU teams went to the NCAA tournament. The Rams lost in the second round of last season’s tournament.

Wade’s 2017 team was defeated by St. Mary’s 85-77 in a first-round game of this year’s NCAA tournament last Thursday. Wade’s VCU team defeated LSU 85-74 in the Battle 4 Atlantis last November.

There have been no details about Wade’s contract with LSU other the length. It is expected that Wade will make about $2 million per year with the Tigers.


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