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LIVE Blog: Will Wade's LSU Introductory Press Conference

On3 imageby: Shea Dixon03/30/26sheadixon

The introductory press conference for LSU men’s basketball coach Will Wade will be held Monday at Noon CT on the floor of the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

The event will be open to the public.

Doors at the PMAC will open at 11 a.m. on Monday and LSU fans are asked to enter the Maravich Center up the concourse ramps on the South side of the building and enter the building through the upper concourse doors.

LSU President Dr. Wade Rousse and LSU Vice President and Director of Athletics Verge Ausberry will speak prior to Coach Wade’s address to the crowd. Coach Wade will then take questions from the assembled media. The LSU Band and Spirit Squads will also be on hand and will entertain the crowd.

“We are excited to welcome Will back home as the next head coach of the LSU Men’s Basketball program,” said Verge Ausberry, LSU Vice President/Director of Athletics said after making the hire. “As LSU fans know well, Will is a consistent winner, a diligent program-builder, and a charismatic leader with an incredible ability to connect with his student-athletes and the fan base. Not only does he bring his postseason pedigree and an energetic presence, but he is innovative and strategic at a time in college athletics that requires both. We are thrilled to have Will and his family with us in Baton Rouge again.”

Added Wade: “This was not an easy decision, because of how much respect and appreciation I have for NC State, but the opportunity to return to Louisiana State University is deeply personal,” said Wade. “This is our chance to come home — to a place that has shaped me, where the passion for basketball runs deep, and where the expectations match the opportunity.

“LSU represents something bigger — it’s about competing at the highest level in the best conference in the country, in front of one of the most passionate fan bases in college basketball. The resources, the commitment, and the alignment at LSU makes it a place where we can build something special and sustainable. I’m incredibly excited about the challenge ahead — about developing young men, competing for championships, and representing the state of Louisiana with pride. There’s a standard at LSU, and I’m energized to embrace it fully. I can’t wait to get home and get to work.”

The broadcast of the press conference will be available on SEC Network+ and the audio will be available for the affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network.

LSU’s flagship home in Baton Rouge, Guaranty Media, is expected to carry the conference on its stations including Eagle 98.1 FM, 100.7 FM The Tigers, ESPN 104.5 FM and Talk 107.3.

Refresh this page for the latest updates LIVE from the PMAC as Wade is announced as the new head basketball coach of the LSU Men’s Basketball program.

By:Shea Dixon

Will Wade’s introductory press conference set for 12 pm CT

03/30/2026 11:46:38 AM

Five seasons ago, LSU Basketball’s head coach was Will Wade, a young up-and-comer who had turned his first SEC job into three NCAA Tournament appearances with LSU across four season. The Tigers were also likely to make the Big Dance during the 2020 COVID season when postseason play was cancelled. After stops at McNeese and North Carolina State, and with NCAA Tournament appearances with both programs, Wade is back home at LSU.

By:Shea Dixon

Will Wade makes his PMAC return

03/30/2026 12:07:46 PM

After stops at McNeese and North Carolina State, Will Wade and his family returned to the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Monday to take back over as head coach of the Tigers. Wade previously served as LSU’s head coach from 2017-22.

By:Shea Dixon

Ausberry, Rousse speak on “alignment” helping land Will Wade

03/30/2026 12:11:44 PM

LSU Athletics Director Verge Ausberry and LSU President Dr. Wade Rousse both spoke at the podium before Rousse – who was President at McNeese when Wade was the basketball program’s head coach – turned the microphone over to the next coach of the LSU Men’s Basketball program. Ausberry spoke of Wade being the one and only target for LSU, and Rousse spoke in-depth on alignment between the powers that be around LSU Athletics and the state of Louisiana to make the push to get Wade back to Baton Rouge a reality.

https://twitter.com/LSUsports/status/2038671810967814444?s=20
By:Shea Dixon

Will Wade: “I came here to win”

03/30/2026 12:20:47 PM

In typical Wade fashion, it did not take long at the podium to cut straight to the point – both on why he left NC State for LSU and what expectations are for a program that won just three SEC games in each of the past two seasons and have not had a winning SEC season since Wade was head coach. “I wasn’t born in Louisiana, but Louisiana is home for me,” Wade said. “I have the same urgency and fight, but we are going to better … Our time is now with LSU Basketball. I came here to win.”

By:Shea Dixon

“We have the resources we need to compete in the SEC”

03/30/2026 12:28:18 PM

When asked about LSU’s commitment to men’s basketball, in large part helping fund NIL to build a competitive roster, Wade kept his answer simple. “I wouldn’t be here if there wasn’t commitment,” Wade said. Wade went on to say he feels the Tigers will be able to immediately compete in the “top group in the SEC” as he begins to build out the roster for the 2026-27 season.

By:Shea Dixon

Wade has already started to meet with the team

03/30/2026 12:40:06 PM

Wade said he has met with “five or six” of LSU’s players ahead of the NCAA Transfer Portal window opening on April 7. “We will support them if they want to be Tigers,” he said. Wade said conversations with players on roster who have eligibility remaining will continue into the coming weeks.

By:Shea Dixon

Wade is confident in Year 1 success at LSU

03/30/2026 12:48:56 PM

Wade started his press conference with a fiery speech and ended it by rushing into the student section and starting an “LSU” chant. Time and again, he spoke of Louisiana being home. The other top talking point: expectations for Year 1 success at LSU being set before his roster is even built.