Did LSU violate state law when Will Wade left Raleigh? NC State is investigating
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- N.C. State is investigating whether LSU induced Wade to terminate his contract and timing.
- N.C. State received the $4 million buyout payment on May 8 after Wade resigned.
- LSU asked N.C. State on May 19 to be released from claims related to Wade’s departure.
N.C. State’s contentious dispute with ex-men’s basketball coach Will Wade isn’t over.
The university is investigating LSU, his current employer, for potential violations of the North Carolina Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act, according to a report. The law allows plaintiffs to obtain damages and recover attorney fees.
N.C. State believes LSU possibly lured Wade back to Baton Rouge, and may have worked with him to avoid a larger buyout. It is refusing to release LSU from possible legal action related to his departure, a spokesperson for the N.C. State athletic department confirmed to the News & Observer on Tuesday.
Athletic Director Boo Corrigan is not providing additional comment.
“The timing and circumstances of Coach Wade’s departure from Raleigh and his resignation, along with the LSU term sheet, and the eventual [buyout] payment of $4 million to N.C. State raise questions about LSU’s potential liability in this matter,” N.C. State General Counsel Allison B. Newhart wrote to LSU General Counsel Carlton Jones.
Timeline of Will Wade’s sudden departure
Wade resigned from his position — through an email from his agent — on March 25. He left Raleigh on March 26. The Tigers announced his hire the same day.
N.C. State agreed to a $4 million buyout from LSU, $1 million less than was stipulated in Wade’s contract. N.C. State received the payment on May 8. His buyout was supposed to be $5 million before April 1, and $3 million after April 1.
On May 19, Jones contacted Newhart about releasing LSU from claims or actions related to prior contact with Wade, his contract with the Pack, the buyout, or any additional issues.
The university responded on June 4, stating at no point did it agree or was it agreeing to the request.
“Instead, N.C. State is investigating whether LSU improperly induced Coach Wade to breach his employment agreement, induced Coach Wade to terminate his employment agreement, and interfered with the timing of termination of the employment agreement to result in lower liquidation damages — all to NC State’s detriment,” Newhart’s response states.
The response also states the university “has reason to suspect LSU may have influenced efforts to avoid or delay notice to NC State of LSU’s recruitment of Coach Wade and perhaps even the timing of Coach Wade’s employment with LSU in order to avoid larger buyout fees,” based on Wade’s actions prior to his departure and information regarding LSU’s reported pursuit.
Corrigan said in March he was aware of the rumors of LSU’s pursuit. Based on Wade’s public and private comments about his position and vision for N.C. State men’s basketball, Corrigan said he had no reason to doubt the coach he hired.
“I was as surprised and shocked as anyone else as this occurred based on the previous conversations that we had had,” Corrigan said on March 26. “I believed he was telling me his true intentions.”
An LSU back story
Despite promising a long tenure in Raleigh, a source close to the program told the News & Observer that Wade intended to use N.C. State as launching pad to return to LSU.
Wade coached at LSU from 2017-22 before the school fired him for cause after FBI and NCAA investigations found him liable for offering financial benefits to recruit players. He worked at McNeese State during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons before joining the Wolfpack.
LSU President Wade Rousse and Tigers senior adviser Heath Schroyer hired Wade at McNeese.
Wade finally addressed his departure from N.C. State during his LSU reintroduction, after being pressed by a reporter. He claimed some things had been mischaracterized.
“When there’s a situation like this, everybody has to cover, let’s put it that way,” Wade said. “I’m at peace with how I left. I’m at peace with what we did. They’re pretty mad for a coach they didn’t think was very good.”
As Wolfpack moves forward, questions remain
N.C. State has since hired program alumnus Justin Gainey as its head coach.
The News & Observer requested records from N.C. State in March regarding Wade’s departure. Requests for Wade’s resignation letter and expense reports were denied.
“N.C. State University has no public records responsive to your request,” the response states. “To the extent any records exist, they are confidential personnel records and cannot be provided in accordance with N.C. General Statute § 126-22 and N.C. General Statute § 126-24. Your request has been fully processed and is now closed.”
The N&O also requested communications regarding future roster construction, revenue sharing and NIL, and the LSU coaching job. Those requests remain open.
This story was originally published June 9, 2026 at 7:13 PM.
