In the wake of Will Wade, it's time to fire Boo Corrigan

The short, volatile Will Wade era at NC State has imploded. As Wade slinks back to LSU, leaving the Wolfpack to pick up the pieces, it's clear this was a predictable disaster. This moment isn't just a mark against the coach; it's a stinging indictment of the leadership that brought him to Raleigh in the first place. The responsibility for this debacle rests with athletic director Boo Corrigan, and it's time for the university to hold him accountable.

When Corrigan hired Wade just a year ago, the decision was met with immediate and justified skepticism. This wasn't a hire based on potential or an unproven coach. It was a deal with a man whose previous tenure at LSU ended in disgrace. The FBI investigation, the wiretapped conversations about illegal recruiting deals -- the "LSU scandal" wasn't ancient history; it was a defining characteristic of Wade's coaching brand.

Wade's history of unscrupulous recruiting tactics was obvious. It wasn't a hidden flaw that might surface later; it was the headline. Hiring him was a statement that winning was more important than integrity, that NC State was willing to mortgage its reputation for the promise of a return to prominence. To say this was "bad news" from the beginning is an understatement.

This wasn't a "big swing"; it was a reckless bet on a flawed product.

A successful leader understands that they are not just hiring a coach; they are bringing in a representative of the university. They are selecting a role model for student-athletes and a leader whose ethics and behavior reflect on the entire institution. By ignoring the clear and present warning signs of Wade's past, Corrigan failed in this fundamental duty. He jeopardized the school's reputation, alienated fans who valued integrity, and ultimately, did not deliver the level of sustained success that was promised.

The fallout from this hiring decision is now NC State's reality. The basketball program is again rudderless, the university is a national laughingstock, and the fan base is left with a deep-seated feeling of betrayal. Will Wade didn't create this problem; he just fulfilled the expectations set by his past. The problem was the decision to hand him the keys.

Boo Corrigan's judgment in this critical hiring was disastrously flawed. His decision to embrace an unscrupulous character like Will Wade, in spite of the overwhelming evidence of his past, demonstrates a fundamental miscalculation of what it means to lead a major university athletic program. Leadership requires more than just a win-at-all-costs mentality. It requires integrity, foresight, and a commitment to the values of the institution you serve. In all these areas, Boo Corrigan failed the Wolfpack, and it's time for NC State to demand better leadership.