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LSU’s Will Wade suspended following media reports on possible recruiting scandal

Posted at 1:34 PM, Mar 08, 2019
and last updated 2019-03-08 14:34:45-05

LSU basketball coach Will Wade has been suspended, the university announced in a statement Friday.

Our partners with The Advocate has published a  joint statement between LSU President and Chancellor F. King Alexander and athletic director Joe Alleva:

“Recent media reports regarding Coach Will Wade are without question concerning to all of us. As such, we and university officials have taken deliberate and purposeful steps to fairly assess and adequately address this situation. As we have done since media reports first surfaced months ago, we are closely coordinating with the NCAA with every step. They have our full cooperation and we will continue to report to them all facts and information on this matter.

“All of us at LSU share the obligation to protect the integrity of this institution, as such we have suspended Head Coach Will Wade indefinitely until such time as we can ensure full compliance with the NCAA, as well as institutional policies and standards. Assistant coach Tony Benford will assume the duties of interim head coach.”

Yahoo Sports and ESPN released reports Thursday that Wade was heard on an FBI wiretap discussing paying for a recruit.

Asked by The Advocate for a comment Friday afternoon, Wade said via text, “No. Sorry.”

Wade, in his second season with LSU, has led the Tigers to a 25-5 (15-2 SEC) record and the cusp of an SEC regular season title. The team faces Vanderbilt on Saturday, with a win ensuring them at least a share of the title for the first time since 2009.