Will Wade, the men’s college basketball coach recently hired by McNeese State, has been suspended for 10 games next season, ending a lengthy NCAA investigation into the football and basketball programs at Louisiana State, a powerhouse team in the Southeastern Conference where Wade previously coached. It is done.
A review panel ruled Thursday that LSU failed to monitor its marquee program, which was found to have improperly passed payments to recruits, paid hush money to keep recruiting violations quiet, and allowed NFL star Odell Beckham Jr., a former LSU wide receiver, I did. , to hand out wads of cash to players after the National Football Championships in January 2020.
But independent arbitrators did not increase the school’s self-imposed punishment, other than extending the university’s probation period by three years. They also didn’t cite Wade on the most egregious charge. Wade’s brazen plan to lure recruits with illegal payments, described in a federal wiretap, was first reported by Yahoo and later aired in an HBO documentary.
But because the NCAA said the federal government rebuffed attempts to obtain recordings or transcripts, the panel did not have enough credible information to punish Wade, said retired judge Bruce Meyerson, who chaired the independent panel. .
Another formal complaint, dismissed due to insufficient evidence, was that Wade directed payments from a bank account in his wife’s name to a friend of the recruiting family, who in return directed the prospect to LSU. However, Wade successfully argued that he was not an authorized user. There was no way he could force his wife and mother to hand over account records to NCAA investigators for accounts held jointly.
The panel also found no credible evidence in a formal complaint that former assistant coach Bill Armstrong offered to give recruits’ families or associates $300,000 in cash, along with jobs, apartments and cars. The athlete’s cousin.
The most serious violation was Wade’s failure to notify university officials of an alleged extortion attempt in which the player’s former fiancé once threatened to go to the NCAA with a list of recruiting violations committed by Wade.
But in the end, Wade was punished mostly for lying, making misleading statements and repeatedly delaying submitting documents during the investigation.
In addition to the 10-game suspension, Wade will be banned from off-campus recruiting and subject to other recruiting restrictions for two years. However, these restrictions may have less impact on teams that rely more on the transfer portal to build their squad.
The NCAA’s decision puts an end to a drama that began more than four years ago when Yahoo reported on a federal wiretap that said Wade had made a “huge offer” to Javonte Smart, who played at LSU. In the NBA
Wade was suspended from the 2019 NCAA Tournament after refusing to speak to LSU, but returned a month later. Former LSU president F. King Alexander told the New York Times last year: He added, “If you’re going to ruin someone’s career, you need proof.” “The president must follow due process rights. Was he paying his players? “My gut would say yes, but my gut isn’t very good in jury trials.”
But ultimately, Wade was fired just before the 2022 NCAA Tournament. At this time, LSU was notified of the charges by the NCAA.
He was hired by McNeese State a year and a day later. McNeese State has become the latest school to add buzz to its lifeless program by hiring a coach embroiled in a federal corruption scandal. Iona brought in Rick Pitino and Xavier brought in Sean Miller for a second term after his run in Arizona. Pitino subsequently moved to St. Louis. Moved to St. John’s.
McNeese State announced the day after hiring Wade that he would serve a five-game suspension. There were few disappointments Thursday at the school nestled in Lake Charles, in the southwestern corner of Louisiana.
Athletic director Heath Schroyer did not return a phone message, but said in a statement that his school, which has not had a winning record in men’s basketball since the 2011-12 season, accepts the decision and is ready to move forward. .
“Enthusiasm for this program is at an all-time high,” he said. “And we are all excited about the future of McNeese Basketball under Coach.”
