The Indiana Hoosiers are set to make the March Madness Tournament in year four of the Mike Woodson era. However, it marks the end of an era. In February, Woodson announced that he wanted to step down as head coach of the program. While the exact reason behind his decision remains unclear, it is believed that the negativity from fans made him reconsider his position.
After their win against Ohio State on Saturday, Woodson gave a thought-provoking postgame interview in which he questioned whether he was truly ready to let go of something so great. With the future still uncertain, Woodson and his players have learned to embrace the present and enjoy their time together.
Woodson’s departure at the conclusion of the season means Indiana is searching for their next head coach, and various outlets have begun naming potential candidates for the Hoosiers. Among the wild-card options is Will Wade. Matt Press shared his thoughts on Wade, discussing what it could mean for Indiana.
“McNeese State’s Will Wade may be the biggest wild card of potential head coaching candidates this cycle,” Press wrote. “From a purely winning perspective, Wade has succeeded at all four stops during his young career. The 42-year-old boasts a 241-104 overall record between his time at Chattanooga, VCU, LSU, and McNeese.”
Wade was a proven winner at LSU in the SEC, but cheating allegations surfaced, ultimately costing him his job. Wade had provided payments to 11 recruits within the program.
Since the incident, Wade has been coaching at McNeese State, where he has demonstrated his ability to turn any program into an immediate winner. McNeese State is in a strong position to make their second consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.
It’s unlikely that Wade will land a big-time program this season, but next year could be different. If Wade can prove himself for three straight years, a major program may come calling once again.