Reports: LSU to fire coach Matt McMahon, bring back Will Wade

LSU is parting ways with Matt McMahon to hire North Carolina State's Will Wade for a second stint as head coach, according to multiple reports on Thursday morning.

Wade, 43, previously was the head coach of the Tigers from 2017-22, guiding the program to three NCAA Tournament appearances in those five seasons. He had an overall record of 105-51 and a Southeastern Conference mark of 56-33 with LSU before being fired for cause in 2022 after committing NCAA violations.

Wade guided McNeese State to NCAA Tournament appearances in 2024 and 2025 before helping North Carolina State to the Big Dance with a 20-14 record in 2025-26.

LSU recently hired former McNeese State president Wade Rousse as its system president and added the latter's school's athletic director, Heath Schroyer, as the senior deputy athletic director on Thursday.

Wade was asked about rumors linking him to LSU on March 12 after the Wolfpack dropped an 81-74 decision to Virginia in the ACC tournament.

"Is the job open there?" Wade said at the time. "No? Listen, let me be very clear. I'm excited at NC State. I was hired at NC State to do a job. This wasn't going to take one year. I've already met with our administration about next year and some of the changes that we need to make and some of the things that we need to do to put this program where it deserves long-term."

McMahon, 47, took over as LSU head coach in 2022-23 but has never posted a winning record in SEC play and has gone 3-15 in the conference each of the past two seasons. LSU limped to a 15-17 overall record this season. McMahon was hired after leading Murray State to a 153-67 record and two trips to the Sweet 16 (2019, 2022).