Will Wade has been named NC State’s next head men’s basketball coach, accepting the position while still coaching McNeese State during the NCAA Tournament. In a media day appearance ahead of Thursday’s first-round game, he became one of the few coaches openly expressing interest in another job, earning applause for his candor, although not from Charles Barkley.
Charles Barkley didn’t love Will Wade’s honesty! https://t.co/CkDVfQF32F pic.twitter.com/l49RR18dj1
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 20, 2025
“I hated it. I’m not gonna lie. First of all, I think he’s a hell of a coach,” Barkley remarked about the former LSU Tigers coach. “I’m a Will Wade fan. He should’ve kept this to himself and said, ‘Hey, I’m here. We’re getting ready to go to the tournament. We can announce it at the end of the tournament or whenever we lose,’ which is likely to be today against Clemson. It’s unfair to his players to walk into a game knowing their coach is leaving.” Barkley emphasized his support for Wade, calling the situation “total B.S.” and expressed that if NC State pressured him, he valued his players’ respect too much to accept it. If the school couldn’t wait 48 hours, he suggested they should find someone else for the job.
While Wade has been open with his team, it may not alleviate Barkley’s concerns. Clark Kellogg also made a pertinent observation regarding the timing of coaching changes in relation to the upcoming transfer portal.
“The calendar is not conducive to this discussion. With the transfer portal about to activate, there’s significant pressure for these coaching changes to be made public,” Kellogg noted. He questioned if NC State could have postponed the announcement until the weekend, potentially missing a 12-seed Cinderella. “They could have waited, but social media and potential leaks put pressure to act quickly. Addressing it openly might be best, though it’s not ideal and the calendar restricts these institutions during coaching transitions.”
Despite Wade being transparent, Barkley’s frustration echoes a widespread belief: coaching transitions should uphold respect for players. Yet, in an age where the transfer portal and media leaks necessitate swift moves, discretion often falls by the wayside, raising the question of whether this reality is acceptable or in need of reform.
