How much is NC State paying men’s basketball coach Will Wade? Here’s what we know
N.C. State released men’s basketball coach Will Wade’s contract Friday, a six-year deal worth more than $17 million.
Wade, hired March 25, is set to earn $2.5 million in his first season leading the Wolfpack. That increases $150,000 through the end of his contract, with the sixth-year base salary sitting at $3.25 million for the 2030-31 season.
The contract’s buyout is $5 million if Wade leaves before April 1, 2026. It drops to $3 million if he leaves before April 1, 2027. The buyout decreases to $2 million if he leaves before April 1, 2028, and $1 million if he leaves before that date in 2029 or 2030.
Wade’s contract includes performance bonuses worth up to $1.7 million.
He will receive non-cumulative bonuses if the team wins 10 conference games or 18 regular-season games; 12 conference games or 20 regular-season games; 14 conference games or 22 regular-season games; or 16 conference games or 24 regular-season games. The bonuses range from $37,500 to $150,000.
He could make another $100,000 if the team wins the ACC regular-season title.
Additionally, he would receive non-cumulative bonuses based on the team’s success in the ACC and NCAA Tournaments. A first-round ACC Tournament appearance is worth $5,000 and increases up to $100,000 for an ACC Tournament title.
NCAA Tournament bonuses are set the same way but with a bigger price tag. A First Four appearance gives Wade a bonus of $50,000, and that increases to $1 million for winning a national championship.
He receives additional bonuses based on where the team finishes in the final AP or USA Today poll rankings.
Wade can earn $50,000 for winning the ACC Coach of the Year title and $100,000 for winning any national Coach of the Year honor from the Atlanta Tipoff Club (Naismith), ESPN, USA Today, AP or Sports Illustrated.
The conract also includes bonuses for the team’s academic success. The Wolfpack must meet certain academic progress and graduation rate benchmarks to earn the bonuses. They range from $25,000 to $100,000.
The N.C. State Board of Trustees approved this week similar bonuses for Wade’s assistants and program staff. Assistant Adam Howard is set to earn $300,000 annually. Brandon Chambers and Vernon Hamilton will make $250,000 per year.
General manager Andrew Slater, a former Oklahoma City Thunder scout, will receive $400,000. Assistant general manager Patrick Stacy’s salary is listed at $85,000.
Kevin Keatts made $3.3 million in his final season, which included bonuses for the for the team’s 2024 ACC Championship and Final Four run.
Unlike Keatts’ contract, Wade’s does not include an automatic two-year extension for winning the conference tournament. Keatts was fired after going 12-19 in 2024-25 and had five years remaining on his contract.
Wade’s bonus structure
| Achievement | Bonus amount |
Single-year federal graduation rate of 70% - 79% | 25,000 |
Single-year federal graduation rate of 80% - 89% | 50,000 |
Single-year federal graduation rate of 90% - 99% | 75,000 |
Single-year federal graduation rate of 100% | 100,000 |
| Four-year graduation success rate of 70-79% | 25,000 |
Four-year graduation success rate of 80-89% | 50,000 |
Four-year graduation success rate of 90-99% | 75,000 |
Four-year graduation success rate of 100% | 100,000 |
| Single-year academic progress rate of 970-979 | 25,000 |
Single-year academic progress rate of 980-989 | 50,000 |
Single-year academic progress rate of 990-999 | 75,000 |
Single-year academic progress rate of 1,000 | 100,000 |
Win 10 conference games or 18 regular season games | 37,500 |
Win 12 conference games or 20 regular season games | 75,000 |
Win 14 conference games or 22 regular season games | 112,500 |
Win 16 conference games or 24 regular season games | 150,000 |
| ACC regular season champions | 100,000 |
Seeded No. 4 or better in ACC Tournament | 100,000 |
| ACC Tournament first round appearance | 5,000 |
ACC Tournament second round appearance | 10,000 |
ACC Tournament quarterfinal appearance | 25,000 |
ACC Tournament semifinal appearance | 50,000 |
ACC Tournament finals appearance | 75,000 |
ACC Tournament championship | 100,000 |
| NCAA Tournament First Four appearance | 50,000 |
NCAA Tournament Round of 64 appearance | 75,000 |
NCAA Tournament Round of 32 appearance | 125,000 |
NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance | 250,000 |
NCAA Tournament Elite Eight appearance | 375,000 |
| NCAA Tournament Final Four appearance | 500,000 |
| National championship appearance | 750,000 |
| National championship | 1 million |
| Final Top 25 ranking | 50,000 |
| Final Top 10 ranking | 100,000 |
| ACC Coach of the Year | 50,000 |
| National Coach of the Year | 100,000 |
This story was originally published April 4, 2025 at 1:29 PM.
