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Head coach Will Wade has revived a McNeese State basketball program that had previously been on life support. In a season and a half, he’s gone 44-9 and looks destined for a second straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
Prior to his arrival, the Cowboys had posted 11 consecutive losing campaigns. They hadn’t reached the postseason in two decades.
The tides have shifted drastically thanks to their latest hire. That move wouldn’t have been possible had it not been for Wade’s checkered college basketball past.
The coach was previously fired by LSU amid an NCAA bribery investigation. He was famously heard on FBI wiretaps pushing for a “strong a– offer” to be made to future Tiger Javonte Smart.
He’s been able to reinvent himself with the Cowboys. After serving out an initial suspension to begin his McNeese State tenure, he’s done nothing but win.
He sat down with Wake Up Mintzy this week to discuss his success both on the court and the recruiting trail. NIL was an obvious topic given its presence in the sport and Wade’s previous run-in.
Surprisingly, he said money isn’t everything when it comes to landing players. Relationships and fit can help limit the need to outbid opponents.
“Everybody acts like, ‘Ah, the best teams are going to get the best players.’ But to me, there’s a couple of factors. One, you’ve gotta have the money. Two, then you’ve gotta be able to have the relationship to get the right players with the money. And then three, you’ve gotta have the sense to be able to fit it all together. Just because you have money, money doesn’t solve all the problems…
“Alabama’s roster – it’s probably not in the top 3 or 4 in the SEC in terms of what they paid for it. But they evaluated well. They got parts and pieces that fit well together.”
-Will Wade
With that being said, he understands that money plays a vital role. He embraces the new world of NIL and the transfer portal while others run away from it.
“I don’t understand why everybody’s all up in arms about it. This is just the free markets at work. If somebody decides it’s worth a certain amount for somebody to go to whatever school, I think that’s great for the kids. I think it’s great for the schools. I think it levels the playing field quite a bit.”
-Will Wade
Wade has thrived at McNeese State, leading to questions about how long he’ll stick around at the mid-major level. The more the Cowboys win, the hotter his name will get in coaching searches.
Should he decide to move on, he’ll take his recruiting outlook with him. Having a larger bankroll won’t necessarily result in making ridiculous offers, he says. He went as far as to comment on a few failed investments he’s seen this year.
“So, you’ve gotta have a good plan, even though you have the most money. I think if you look right now at what most people consider some of the top spenders in the sport, they’re not performing as well, probably, as what they spent. So, you’ve gotta be able to spend it wisely.”
-Will Wade
Teams like Indiana and Arkansas have struggled despite having massive payrolls. Teams like Kansas State aren’t seeing production after spending boatloads on transfer players in the portal.
Will Wade knows money isn’t everything when it comes to success. It helps, but having a plan ensures that cash won’t be wasted. After locking in another talented roster at McNeese State this offseason, he’ll look to secure a ticket to the Big Dance. The Cowboys are currently 14-5 and in first place in the Southland Conference.