By ADAM ZAGORIA
The NCAA punishment has dropped on Will Wade for his recruiting violations at LSU and it will impact him at his new job.
Wade has received a 10-game suspension and two-year show-cause order from the NCAA’s Independent Accountability Resolution Panel, released Thursday morning by the IARP.
Wade received a five-game suspension and one-year show-cause from McNeese State University when hired back in March. This 10-game suspension will replace the previous five game penalty.
LSU fired Wade in March 2012 after the NCAA delivered a Notice of Allegations charging LSU with eight Level 1 violations, considered the most serious, including seven connected to the basketball program. One Level 1 violation included a “failure to exercise institutional control and monitor …its football and men’s basketball programs.”
In taped calls depicted in the two-hour HBO documentary “The Scheme,” Wade discussed with Christian Dawkins, a runner in the basketball world and want-to-be-agent, in colorful language the recruitment of players Naz Reid, Nassir Little and Javonte Smart.
“I went to him with a [expletive] strong-ass offer about a month ago,” Wade said in the call, first reported March 7, 2019, referring to Smart. “[Expletive] strong. It was a helluva [expletive] offer.”
“I think the only way you can interpret someone in a head coaching position saying that they made a strong-ass offer, they ain’t talking about a scholarship offer, bro,” Dawkins said in the film. “One-hundred percent talking about money.”
McNeese State hired Wade in March.
“We accept and respect today’s decision by the IARP in regards to Coach Wade,” said McNeese Director of Athletics Heath Schroyer. “We are all happy this is finally behind us and we have clarity moving forward.
“We have been proactive from the beginning in respecting the NCAA’s process and in regards to protecting the integrity of our institution. That will not change moving forward.
“The enthusiasm around this program is at an all-time high and we are all excited about the future of McNeese Basketball with coach (Wade) leading the way.”
The Wade fallout comes one day after the NCAA handed Memphis coach Penny Hardaway a three-game suspension for recruiting violations.
(Photo via McNeese State)
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