The official ruling on the penalties stemming from the Will Wade saga at LSU have been handed down, which includes a 10-game suspension for the former LSU coach.
The ruling affects both the LSU men's basketball and football programs and came from the NCAA's Independent Accountability Resolution Panel. Former Wade assistant Bill Armstrong avoided any penalties.
"Both the football and men's basketball programs will be under 3 years of probation stemming from violations," read a news release announcing the ruling. "Louisiana State University failed to monitor representatives of athletics interests in its football program and the activities of individuals recruiting in its men’s basketball program, resulting in the provision of impermissible benefits and recruiting violations."
The LSU football inclusion in the ruling stems from "impermissible benefits by two of LSU's representatives of athletics interests and an impermissible recruiting contact by the former head football coach." The violations all occurred prior to the hiring of Brian Kelly ahead of the 2022 season and date back as far as 2012.
LSU also faced discipline over the use of an ineligible player from 202-'15, and has vacated all wins during which he participated. That player was not specified in the report, but has been reported by The Advocate to have been former OL Vadal Alexander, who played in 50 games with the Tigers. The vacation of those wins was self-imposed by the Tigers upon receiving the notice of allegations.
His ineligibility stemmed from payments sent to his father. LSU said it was not aware of Alexander's ineligibility until 2018.
The basketball program's issues have been well documented, initially arising out of a high-profile court case that enveloped wade and the potential cash involved in recruiting star Baton Rouge point guard Javonte Smart. Wade was suspended initially following the investigation, but managed to hang onto his job until he was ultimately fired roughly a year ago following the notice of allegations being handed down by the NCAA.
Wade was without a job for the 2022 season, but has since been hired by McNeese State, where his suspension will follow as will any show-cause violations. The program had self-imposed a 5-game suspension ahead of any official discipline.
LSU had self-imposed several penalties prior to the ruling, which were accepted and considered as additional penalties were handed down. Those self-imposed penalties included a postseason ban for football in the 2020-'21 season, the reduction of scholarships by four in each of the 2020-'21 and 2021-'22 seasons and stricter recruiting limits for the program and head coach. The basketball program also reduced scholarships by one for each of the 2023-'24 and 2024-'25 seasons and instituted stricter recruiting limits in the first season under new head coach Matt McMahon. The Tigers struggled mightily in Year 1 of his tenure, slumping to 14-19 and losing 14 consecutive SEC games.
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The programs will also face public reprimand and censure, a fine of 0.5% of its average men's basketball and football budgets and the three years of probation. That probation does not include a postseason ban or removal of institutional control. That will require the university to inform all potential recruits in writing of the probation, and include information stemming from all additional penalties. The program will also have to file regular compliance reports to the NCAA.
For the full breakdown of violations, click here.
The news brings the end to a saga that was a dark cloud over an otherwise golden time for the university's athletics. The football program had struck a low point following a national title in 2019, but ran to a surprise SEC West title in 2022 under new head coach Brian Kelly, and is considered a favorite in the SEC in the coming season. The women's basketball program won a national championship in the second year under new head coach Kim Mulkey, and the baseball program is currently in the College World Series in the second year under head coach Jay Johnson. Neither baseball nor women's basketball were cited for any violations.
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