RALEIGH, N.C (WGHP) — NC State introduced Will Wade as its 21st head coach in program history on Tuesday afternoon. The full press conference can be watched in the player above. Who is Will Wade? Proven winner Wade has experienced massive success in all four of his stops as a head c oach thus far in his career, despite being only 42 years old. Wade cut his teeth as an assistant coach at Virginia Commonwealth University and was on staff for VCU's memorable Cinderella run to the Final Four in 2011. HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 02: Bradford Burgess #20 of the Virginia Commonwealth Rams goes to the hoop against Shelvin Mack #1, Matt Howard #54 and Andrew Smith #44 of the Butler Bulldogs during the National Semifinal game of the 2011 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship at Reliant Stadium on April 2, 2011 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) His first career stop was at the University of Tennesse at Chattanooga, where he was named Southern Conference Coach of the Year in 2014 for leading the Mocs to 8-0 start in conference play his first year on the job. January 22 2015: Chattanooga Mocs head coach Will Wade watches the action in the second half. The Chattanooga Mocs defeated the Virginia Military Keydets 86-64 at McKenzie Arena in Chattanooga, Tennessee. (Photo by Charles Mitchell/Icon Sportswire/Corbis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Chattanooga nearly won the SoCon in 2015 and afterward, Wade returned to VCU, this time as the head coach. PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 12: Head coach Will Wade of the Virginia Commonwealth Rams looks on against the Rhode Island Rams during the championship game of the Atlantic 10 Basketball Tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 12, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) Wade spent the next 2 seasons at VCU, making the NCAA Tournament in both years and winning a tournament game in 2016 before taking a head coaching position at Lousiana State University. Wade inherited a 10-win LSU team and led them to a winning record and NIT appearance in his first season in 2018. FAYETTEVILLE, AR - JANUARY 10: Head Coach Will Wade of the LSU Tigers celebrates with his team during a timeout against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena on January 10, 2018 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Tigers defeated the Razorbacks 75-54. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) His team took a leap in his second year in 2019, with a 25-5 start that saw the Tigers sitting in first place in the SEC standings. Dragged down by controversy LSU's promising 2019 came to a screeching halt when Wade was suspended for the 2019 NCAA Tournament and the Tigers went on to lose in the Sweet 16 with an interim coach. JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - MARCH 23: Interim head coach Tony Benford of the LSU Tigers talks with players as they take on the Maryland Terrapins during the second half of the game in the second round of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Vystar Memorial Arena on March 23, 2019, in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) That suspension, along with multiple allegations of misconduct within the program derailed most of the momentum Wade had built in Baton Rouge those first two seasons. The 2019 suspension was based on an FBI wiretap that allegedly captured Wade referring to a "stong a** offer" for a recruit, which was not allowed under NCAA rules at the time. ESPN reported that the NCAA got word in 2020 that Wade "arranged for, offered and/or provided impermissible payments, including cash payments, to at least 11 men's basketball prospective student-athletes, their family members, individuals associated with the prospects and/or nonscholastic coaches in exchange for the prospects' enrollment at LSU." While Wade would go on to be reinstated following the 2019 season, LSU would never reach the heights of that 2019 season again before Wade was ultimately fired in 2022. TAMPA, FLORIDA - MARCH 10: Will Wade the head coach of the LSU Tigers against the Missouri Tigers during the second round of the 2022 SEC Men's Basketball Tournament at Amalie Arena on March 10, 2022, in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) According to ESPN, Wade agreed to a new contract that granted LSU the ability to fire him with cause if he committed any Level I or Level II NCAA rules violations when he was reinstated in 2019. One of the allegations against Wade listed by ESPN alleges that he gave "impermissible cash payments to the former fiancée of a student-athlete in order to buy her silence regarding prior and current impermissible inducements to student-athletes or prospective student-athletes." ESPN reports that the NCAA also accused Wade of violations of ethical conduct principles and failing to cooperate with investigators, "as well as a number of other allegations the [Complex Case Unit] was ultimately unable to substantiate fully, when he refused to produce all records the CCU requested from him." Wade would be hired again as a head coach at McNeese State in March 2023, however, he was given a 10-game suspension and a two-year show-cause penalty for the alleged violations at LSU. SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - MARCH 20: Head coach Will Wade of the McNeese State Cowboys speaks during a press conference ahead of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Delta Center on March 20, 2024, in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) Redemption at McNeese Wade took over a McNeese team that had only won 11 games in each of its previous two seasons when he arrived. The team had an 8-2 record once he finished serving his 10-game suspension and Wade took over and did what he has done and all of his coaching stops — win. The Cowboys went 22-1 in their next 23 games, winning the Southland Conference and making the school's first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2002. While McNeese lost to Gonzaga in the first round as an underdog. Wade and the Cowboys found redemption on Thursday as they upset No. 5 seed Clemson in the First Round. PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND - MARCH 20: Will Wade, head coach of the McNeese Cowboys, and Brandon Murray #23 celebrate their win over the Clemson University Tigers during the first round of the 2025 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament held at Amica Mutual Pavillion on March 20, 2025, in Providence, Rhode Island. (Photo by Ben Solomon/NCAA Photos via Getty Images) The win was the first NCAA Tournament win in program history and coincided with a second consecutive Southland Conference championship. NC State fans are hopeful that Wade will bring his winning ways to Raleigh and return the Wolfpack to the ranks of its Tobacco Road rivals in the ACC. ...read more read less