Sports

LSU Suspends Will Wade After Explosive Yahoo! Report

(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

William Davis Contributor
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The college basketball landscape was rocked to its core Friday.

LSU announced that they are suspending head basketball coach Will Wade indefinitely, after an explosive Yahoo! report detailed a phone call with Wade discussing  a “strong-ass” offer Wade allegedly made to a prospect. (RELATED: REPORT: Sean Miller, Will Wade To Be Subpoenaed In College Basketball Trial)

“Recent media reports regarding Coach Will Wade are without question concerning to all of us,” LSU athletic director Joe Alleva said. “All of us at LSU share the obligation to protect the integrity of the institution, as such we have suspended Head Coach Will Wade indefinitely.”

Assistant coach Tony Benford will take over as the school’s interim coach, the school announced. The Tigers currently sit at 25-5 and 16-2 in the SEC. The Tigers will clinch the number one seed in next week’s SEC tournament with a win.(RELATED: College Basketball Official Caught Showing Off LSU Attire)


On a wiretap obtained by the FBI, Wade appeared to discuss an offer he made to four-star recruit and current Tigers guard Javonte Smart.

“I was thinking last night on this Smart thing,” Wade allegedly said on the phone call. “I’ll be honest with you, I’m [expletive] tired of dealing with the thing. Like I’m just [expletive] sick of dealing with the [expletive]. Like, this should not be that [expletive] complicated.”

While it’s important to wait for all the facts to come out, you have to wonder if we’ve reached the end of the road in Wade’s brief LSU tenure. He’s one of the best coaches in the sport, and LSU has been considered a legitimate final four contender.

This is a tough day for the school and the sport.

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