Why Will Wade Should Be the Only Option for Louisville

Why Will Wade Should Be the Only Option for Louisville

Recap of the Head Coaching Position

In case you haven’t been paying attention to the coaching carousel regarding the University of Louisville, here’s a quick recap. The Cards initially pursued Baylor head coach Scott Drew but were rejected. Then, Josh Heird turned to FAU head coach Dusty May, who had reached the Final Four the previous year. Rumor has it that a deal with May was close to completion, with an announcement expected soon. However, in the midst of the NCAA Tournament, Woj dropped a bombshell on the fanbase.

The news caught just about everyone off guard, and now the pressure is on Josh Heird to appoint the next head coach soon, allowing him to become active in the portal and in recruiting.

Addressing Objections to Will Wade

Do I think that Will Wade is the best possible candidate of all time? No. However, given the circumstances, he is without a doubt the best option available. Concerns about Wade revolve around his history with the NCAA while at LSU and the NCAA's strict scrutiny of Louisville. Where one mistake could be detrimental to the program.

BUT, here's how I view the objection: Louisville basketball is already in a terrible position. Even if we were to make a misstep with Wade, how much worse could it get? Even when Louisville self-imposed a postseason ban in 2015-2016, basketball remained enjoyable to watch and bearable because the team was winning games, finishing 23-8.

Other objections suggest that there are better options available. However, upon closer examination of the coaches currently under consideration, it becomes apparent that this isn’t necessarily the case.

Why Will Wade is the Best Option

Among the names being discussed, Wade stands out. At 41 years old, he may be one of the youngest, but still has ten years of head coaching experience. Wade has never had a losing season in his career, despite leading various teams:

Chattanooga: Wade joined Chattanooga in 2013-2014 and improved their record to 18-15 from 13-19 the previous season. In his second season, they achieved a 22-10 record.

VCU: Joining VCU in 2015-2016, Wade guided them to a 25-11 record in his first season. The previous season (2014-2015) VCU was 26-10 behind Shaka Smart who is now arguably one of the top 10 coaches in NCAA. In Wade’s second season, they maintained their standard, finishing 26-9.

LSU: In his debut season with LSU, Wade turned around a struggling team, finishing 18-15 after a 10-win season the previous year. He continued this trend over the next five seasons.

McNeese State: Wade took over a team that had finished 11-23 the previous year and led them to a 30-win season in just one year, earning their first NCAA tournament appearance in 22 years.

This is exactly the type of coach the University of Louisville needs right now: someone who has consistently shown they can win games. He is the coach who can turn this program around the fastest.

He Hasn’t Been to A Final Four

This argument holds little weight. Rick Pitino, one of the greatest coaches of all time, took seven seasons to reach a Final Four. John Calipari didn’t reach one until his eighth season, and Coach K took eleven seasons. Even Mark Few, with all his postseason success, didn’t make it to the Final Four until his sixteenth season.

The point is, a young coach like Wade doesn't need a Final Four appearance to validate his capabilities. Dusty May had barely over four seasons above .500 prior to his Final Four appearance.

With the resources available at Louisville Will Wade won’t have trouble reaching milestones that Louisville expects. Will Wade is the guy, and while there's a perceived risk, the guarantee of winning games outweighs it.