LSU’s reinstated head basketball coach Will Wade has agreed to an amended contract that includes a stipulation that allows the SEC school to fire him with cause if he is found to have committed Level I or Level II violations.
LSU officials reinstated Wade April 16 more than a month after he was suspended for refusing to meet with school to answer questions about his relationship with aspiring agent Christian Dawkins.
Under the terms of the new contract, which was obtained by ESPN Wednesday, Wade also agreed to forfeit a $250,000 performance bonus for this past season. He also agreed not to sue the school if he is fired with cause.
LSU new AD Scott Woodward said at his initial press conference he would be 100 percent behind Wade unless he was presented with evidence to the contrary. It was a show of good faith since the two had not spoken at that point.
A federal jury convicted Dawkins and two other men in October for their roles in a pay-for-play scheme to influence players to sign with Adidas-sponsored schools. Dawkins and former Adidas consultant Merl Code are on trial in New York this week for allegedly bribing assistant coaches to push players to Dawkins’ start up sports management company.
A US District Court Judge in New York ruled Friday that defense attorneys could not subpoena Wade and Arizona’s Sean Miller to testify during the case. Steven Haney, Dawkins’ lead attorney, said he would file a motion Thursday morning, asking the judge to reconsider his decision about Miller.
Last month, ESPN and Yahoo Sports reported that in one of the phone calls intercepted by FBI wire taps, Wade expressed frustration about his inability to close on a recruit despite offering him a “strong ass offer.’’ Sources told ESPN that Wade was frustrated with the handler of guard Javonte Smart, a blue- chip prospect from Baton Rouge who eventually signed with the Tigers. After the transcripts were published, LSU suspended Wade March 8 and named Tony Benford interim head coach. The Tigers clinched the SEC regular season title the next day with a win over winless Vanderbilt in a game where Smart did not play.
Wade’s suspension covered the entirety of LSU’s post season, which ended in the third round of the NCAA tournament. The coach finally met with former AD Joe Alleva and NCAA compliance officials after changing attorneys and was reinstated by Alleva, which notes he had no choice because there was no direct evidence Wade had violated NCAA rules.
Dick Weiss is a sportswriter and columnist who has covered college football and college and professional basketball for the Philadelphia Daily News and the New York Daily News. He has received the Curt Gowdy Award from the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame and is a member of the national Sportswriters Hall of Fame. He has also co-written several books with Rick Pitino, John Calipari, Dick Vitale and authored a tribute book on Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski.