Wade’s NC State buyout settled prior to April 1 date

Jaylynn Nash-Imagn Images

By Matt Moscona and Hunt Palmer

Will Wade’s departure from NC State comes with a settlement.

LSU and NC State did agree to a $4 million settlement of Will Wade’s buyout, source confirms.

Press conference to introduce Wade might be pushed a few days so as not to conflict with the LSU Women’s Basketball Sweet 16 game Friday.@1045espn @LASportsDotNet

— Matt Moscona (@MattMoscona) March 26, 2026

Per the terms of Wade’s contract, NC State is owed $5 million before April 1 and $3 million thereafter should Wade leave for another job. NC State and LSU have agreed to settle those terms at $4 million to move the process along. LSU is interested in Wade getting to work in Baton Rouge as quickly as possible. The Wolfpack needs to begin the search for a new coach.

College basketball’s transfer portal opens on April 7.

The $4 million in buyout money compounds the compensation LSU still owes dismissed head coach Matt McMahon which totals around $8 million over the next three years.