Will Wade signed a six-year contract to be NC State's next head coach, the school announced Sunday.
"I am beyond excited and honored to be chosen to lead the Wolfpack basketball program," said Wade in a statement. "NC State's rich tradition, passionate fan base, and location in one of the best cities in the country make this a destination job, and I can't wait to get started."
Wade, 42, won back-to-back Southland regular-season and tournament titles in his two years in charge of McNeese State. He helped engineer a first-round upset of No. 5 Clemson on Thursday - his first-ever NCAA tourney win - before falling to Purdue in the Round of 32.
Wade addressed the rumors at Saturday's postgame press conference.
"I'll worry about that tomorrow," Wade said, according to NJ.com's Adam Zagoria.
He added: "Look, I'm an honest guy but today I want to put a bow on everything with McNeese, if I can. That'll be up to whatever else happens. Now I want to worry about McNeese.
"This is about our players and McNeese now. We're not flying back until tomorrow morning. We'll enjoy this here and when we get back, we'll figure out next steps."
Wade was visibly emotional while discussing his short stint with the Cowboys, according to CBS Sports' Nicole Auerbach.
The former LSU head coach led the Cowboys to 57 wins in two seasons, the most in a two-year span in the program's history, and was awarded South Conference Coach of the Year twice.
Student manager Amir "Aura" Khan told CBS Sports' Matt Norlander that he would "be open" to following Wade to NC State and that he desires to be a grad assistant in the future.
Wade will be replacing Kevin Keatts, who was fired in early March after missing the ACC Tournament. Keatts was in charge of the Wolfpack for eight years.
