LSU and former VCU Head Coach, Will Wade, have agreed to a six-year deal to make him the new basketball coach for the Tigers. On Sunday morning, LSU flew to Richmond, Virginia and held a three-hour meeting with Wade on the possibility of becoming their new head coach. After the meeting was over, sources said that Wade saw LSU as his “Dream Job”.
Over his last two years at VCU, Wade compiled a record of 51-20 and two NCAA Tournament appearances. In 2016, Wade led VCU to their first opening-round win in the NCAA Tournament since 2013.
The Success of Will Wade
Overall in his four years as a Head Coach at the college level (Chattanooga and VCU), Wade has had four winning seasons, a winning % of .669, and two NCAA Tournament appearances.
Wade is inheriting an LSU team that went 10-21 this past season and has made it to the big dance only twice since 2007. The New LSU coach is looking to break away from the lack of success former VCU Head coaches have had once leaving.
Former VCU Head Coaches
Jeff Capel took over as head coach for Oklahoma in 2006 after four successful years with VCU. Capel had a five-year stint with the Sooners with just one Tournament appearance. He wasn’t let go in 2011 and is now an assistant coach for Duke
Anthony Grant took over the VCU gig for Capel in 2006 and had three straight winning seasons to go with two NCAA Tournament appearances. Grant then left the Rams to become the Head Coach for Alabama. Grant was able to last a year longer than Capel at a new school, but it ended with the same result, just one NCAA Tournament appearance.
The most notable Head Coach for VCU took over in 2009 when Grant left, Shaka Smart. The first time Head Coach made it to the big dance in five of his six years at the helm. His biggest accomplishment to date was a Final Four appearance in 2011. Smart left VCU in 2015 for the University of Texas. The jury is still out on his success with the Longhorns. Smart went from 20 wins and a NCAA Tournament bid his first year, to just 11 wins and last place in the Big 12.
Wade has his work set out for him at LSU, but it is a challenge he clearly welcomes. VCU will be looking for a new Head Coach for the second time in as many seasons.
