In a stunning, full-circle decision that has electrified - and divided - college basketball, LSU will fire Men’s Basketball Coach Matt McMahon and will rehire its former coach Will Wade, marking one of the most dramatic coaching reversals in LSU history, per John Rothstein.
McMahon’s tenure ends after four difficult seasons in Baton Rouge. Hired in 2022 to rebuild the program in the aftermath of NCAA turmoil, the former Murray State coach never found sustained success in the SEC. LSU finished just 15–17 this past season and managed only one winning campaign under his leadership.
Overall, McMahon compiled a 60–70 record at LSU, including a 17–55 mark in SEC play.
Despite inheriting a depleted roster and stabilizing the program structurally, the lack of on-court progress ultimately proved decisive.
Ironically, McMahon had been brought in to replace Wade - who now returns to the same job he once lost amid NCAA recruiting violations. Of course the emergence of NIL since those violations occurred has opened the door for Wade’s return.
Wade previously coached LSU from 2017 to 2022, building the Tigers into a contender with a 105–51 overall record and three NCAA Tournament appearances, including an SEC regular-season title in 2019.
His tenure, however, ended abruptly when LSU fired him amid major NCAA allegations tied to recruiting violations.
Since then, Wade has rebuilt his career step by step.
After a year away from coaching, he took over at McNeese State in 2023 and quickly transformed the program, leading it to consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances and, in 2025, the school’s first-ever tournament victory.
That success earned him a return to the power-conference level at NC State. In the 2025–26 season—his first with the Wolfpack—Wade guided the team to a 20–14 overall record (10–8 in ACC play) and an NCAA Tournament appearance, though the season ended in the First Four.
Now, he is set to Baton Rouge under dramatically different circumstances
