SEC rival reportedly working to bring back coach it already fired

One of the Alabama Crimson Tide 's biggest rivals on the hardwood is reportedly trying to bring back its former men's basketball head coach. According to multiple reports Wednesday, LSU is working to lure former coach Will Wade back to Baton Rouge after one just season at NC State. Doing so would mean LSU parting ways with Matt McMahon, who has long been on the hot seat.

It would also mean rehiring a coach the school had already fired. Wade coached LSU for five seasons and was fired ahead of the 2022 NCAA Tournament after the school received a Notice of Allegations from the NCAA that detailed reports of five Level I violations. He led the Tigers to NCAA Tournament berths three times in a span of four years.

Wade received a two-year show-cause and a 10-game suspension in June 2023 after he'd been named head coach at McNeese State in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He guided the Cowboys to a berth in the 2025 NCAA Tournament and a first-round upset of the No. 5 seed Clemson Tigers .

NC State officially announced the hiring of Wade to replace Kevin Keatts just one day after McNeese State's season ended with a second-round loss to Purdue in last year's NCAA Tournament. Wade recently led the Wolfpack to an NCAA Tournament berth in the First Four in Dayton, Ohio. NC State lost on a last-second shot to the Texas Longhorns , who have since made a surprise run to the Sweet 16 after knocking off No.