N.C. State head coach Will Wade motions on the sideline during the second half of the Wolfpack’s 94-70 win over UAB at Lenovo Center on Friday, Nov. 7, 2025, in Raleigh, N.C.
The News & Observer
RALEIGH
Ten years removed from Will Wade’s hire at Virginia Commonwealth University, N.C. State men’s basketball — with Wade now leading the Wolfpack — hosts the Rams in his fourth game on the Pack’s bench.
There will be a couple of firsts when the teams take the court at Lenovo Center on Monday night: The Wolfpack and Rams meet for the first time, and Wade had also avoided playing his former program — even in the postseason — while at LSU and McNeese State.
Wade has talked openly about this coaching career, the mistakes he made and his growth. He recently shared more about his time at VCU and the perspective he’s gained in the past decade.
“I love VCU. I loved my time there,” Wade said Friday after beating UNC-Greensboro. “I was too eager to leave.”
In a recent radio interview broadcast on 99.9 The Fan, Wade said he didn’t fully appreciate the program or the support it received when he was the head coach. He was all about moving forward and getting to the next level. Wade signed a contract in March 2016 to stay with VCU through the 2023-24 season, which was to be funded through private money.
A year later, LSU hired Wade to become its head men’s basketball coach. McLaughlin said in 2017 the school met Wade’s requirements and agreed on “next steps,” but the young coach, then 34, decided to make the change.
Looking back, Wade doesn’t believe that was the best decision.
“I should have never left,” Wade said during his radio interview. “I’m reflective enough to admit that. I should’ve stayed a while longer. We had something really [good] going.”
Wade said the facilities, fans and administrative support makes it easy for anyone to win with the Rams. None of their 13 previous coaches finished with a losing record. VCU holds a 1,074-576 overall record and has gone 454-240 in conference play. It has played in multiple conferences since its inception in 1968-69. The Rams have made 20 NCAA Tournament appearances, including a stretch of seven straight under Smart and Wade.
VCU head coach Will Wade instructs his team against the St. Mary’s Gaels during the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 16, 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Christian Petersen Getty Images
Since 2006, six coaches have left VCU for a high major job, including Wade, his former boss Shaka Smart, and Jeff Capel. Mike Rhoades left the team for Penn State after six seasons. Ryan Odom spent two seasons with the Rams before taking over at Virginia in the offseason.
“I was fortunate I got to coach there,” Wade added on Friday. “Anybody can win there. They can hire any of y’all and you can win there. They’ve got the support. It’s a big time spot.
“I was thrown into the fire. I replaced the best coach there of all time. Took them to the Final Four. I was just trying not to screw it up. They gave me the keys to a Ferrari and said, ‘Drive fast. Don’t put this thing in the ditch. Let’s just try and keep that bad boy between the lines.’”
During his two-year stint, Wade led the team to a 51-20 overall mark and a 28-8 Atlantic 10 record. The Rams went to the NCAA Tournament both years. In 2016, Wade’s team beat Oregon State and nearly upset Oklahoma, which went on to the Final Four.
VCU head coach Will Wade reacts against the Duke Blue Devils during the 2K Classic at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 20, 2015 in New York City. Jim McIsaac Getty Images
Wade’s history with the program extends past his two years at the helm. He served under Smart from 2009-13, prior to taking the head coaching job at Chattanooga, and was part of the staff that went to the 2011 Final Four.
Mike Jones, UNCG head coach, worked on Smart’s staff alongside Wade. He jokingly said last week Wade and Smart were always in a competition to see who was smarter, but in reality they’re both intelligent, hard-working coaches. Jones is happy to see Wade coaching in North Carolina and back on the big stage.
“I think Will was the youngest guy on our staff at VCU,” Jones said. “To see where he is now, in charge of a program like this is really impressive. … I was just lucky to be part of that staff. Will’s an amazing human being. He is. He cares about people. He’s a tough coach. He’s become really a good coach, and I’m just really happy for him and his success.”
Scouting the Rams
VCU, coached by Phil Martinelli Jr., enters the game 2-1, with its lone loss coming by three points in a neutral site matchup against Utah State. N.C. State is 3-0 against a trio of mid-major programs. The Pack is averaging 106 points through the first three games and ranks No. 1 in the country. It is holding teams to 66.7 points per game.
The Rams are good at getting to the line and forcing turnovers. KenPom reports VCU’s free throw rate (53.1) is No. 24 in the nation, while its defensive efficiency ranks No. 30 in the nation. The team is forcing an opponent turnover on 21.3% of their possessions, as well. Opponents are shooting 41.4% on 2-point baskets, which ranks No. 19 in the country.
VCU is one of the fastest teams in college basketball, as well. It averages 74.8 possessions per game, which is faster than any ACC team this season and is in the top 20 nationally. Georgia, Florida and Alabama are among the handful of Power Four programs who average more possessions.
Wade said the Rams will bring a good crowd and provide a challenge. As someone who’s been on the opposite bench, Wade knows the Wolfpack will “get their best shot.”
Assistant coach Brandon Chambers was also a student manager with VCU, while Director of Pack Performance Greg Goldin served two stints with the program. VCU assistant Brett Nelson worked on Kevin Keatts’ staff last year.
“It’s the first of our high majors and will be a Quad 1, Quad 2 game for us,” Wade said. “It’s a big, big game as we start to try to build a resume that’s distinguishable from other folks.”
