Will Wade says he's 'trying to follow more rules this time' on return as LSU coach

It appears thatWill Wadeis looking to do things more by the book in his second opportunityat LSU.

At least, that's what thenow-Tigers men's basketball coach, who washired back at LSUandaway from NC Stateafter one season on Thursday, told a group of reporters from his car outside an airport in Baton Rouge.

"They're gonna kill me if I start answering questions. I'm trying to follow more rules this time," Wade said to the group of reporters as he was driven off.

REQUIRED READING:Will Wade to LSU: Latest news on NC State coach leaving to return to Tigers

Wade reportedly agreed to a seven-year deal with the Tigers,who also fired Matt McMahon on Thursdayafter leading LSU to a 60-70 overall record in his four seasons at the helm.

"We are excited to welcome Will back home as the next head coach of the LSU Men's Basketball program," LSU director of athletics Verge Ausberry said in a statement. "As LSU fans know well, Will is a consistent winner, a diligent program-builder, and a charismatic leader with an incredible ability to connect with his student-athletes and the fan base. Not only does he bring his postseason pedigree and an energetic presence, but he is innovative and strategic at a time in college athletics that requires both."

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The 43-year-old coach has a history of rule-breaking from his first stint at LSU, and that is likely the source of his humor in that clip. Wade was fired by the Tigers in 2022 after the NCAA accused him of committing multiple Level I and Level II violations, including "lack of institutional control." That wasn't the first rule-breaking or scrutiny Wade was under at LSU, though.In 2019, Wade was involved in a federal investigationinto corruption in college basketball recruiting, centered on paying recruits before the now-NIL era.

The NCAA issued Wade a two-year no-show cause and a 10-game suspension in 2023, the first season he was hired by Heath Schroyer at McNeese State.Schroyer was hired at LSU on Thursdayfor a senior administrator role that oversees the men's basketball program, a hirethat was reported to be a significant factorin Wade's abrupt return to LSU after Wade denied rumors that his name was linked to LSU at the ACC tournament.

On the court, Wade won in his first tenure at LSU. He led the Tigers to a 105-51 overall record, an SEC regular-season championship in 2019, and four postseason tournament appearances, including three to the Men's NCAA Tournament.

LSU and NC State came to terms on a $4 million buyout for Wade to leave the Wolfpack.According to Wade's contract with the Wolfpack,obtained by the USA TODAY Network, the buyout for him to take another job was at $5 million before dropping to $3 million on April 1.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Will Wade 'trying to follow more rules this time' with LSU basketball