Will Wade is heading back to The Bayou.
The North Carolina State head coach confirmed in a statement on Thursday that he was leaving the Wolfpack after one season and returning to LSU to lead the Tigers’ men’s basketball program again. According to Wade’s contract with NC State, obtained by the USA TODAY Network, he’ll owe the Wolfpack $5 million in a buyout payment.
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It will mark his second stint with the Tigers, with his first ending with a fire-for-cause in 2022 after NCAA and FBI investigations accused Wade of multiple Level I and Level II violations, including “lack of institutional control.”
REQUIRED READING: Will Wade to LSU: Latest news on NC State coach leaving to return to Tigers
LSU has not officially announced Wade’s return, but according to multiple reports, the Tigers have dismissed Wade’s successor, Matt McMahon, after four seasons, and Wade has signed a seven-year deal with the university.
In a statement released on his personal account, Wade called the decision to leave “not an easy” one.
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“This was not an easy decision, because of how much respect and appreciation I have for this program and this university. But the opportunity to return to Louisiana State University is deeply personal,” Wade said in a statement. “It’s a chance to go home — to a place that means a great deal to me and my family.”
In one season, the Wolfpack had some success under Wade, going 20-14 overall and making an appearance in the First Four. NC State picked up top-25 ranked wins
At the ACC tournament, Wade closed down rumors of his name being tossed around for the LSU job, should the Tigers have decided to dismiss McMahon, by saying he is “excited at NC State” and that he had already met with administrators to discuss changes to “put this program where it deserves to be long-term.”
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It’s the second consecutive season that the Wolfpack will conduct a coaching search for its men’s basketball program, with Wade being the choice last offseason when the program decided to part ways with Kevin Keatts.
“I’ll always be grateful for my time here, the relationships we built, and the foundation we helped strengthen. NC State is positioned for continued success, and I’ll be cheering them on moving forward,” Wade ended his statement with.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Wade leaves NC State for LSU: ‘Not an easy decision’
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