You’ve likely heard from someone somewhere that mysterious rumor mill “sources” have confirmed former VCU assistant Will Wade as the next VCU head coach.
You’ve likely heard from someone somewhere that mysterious rumor mill “sources” have confirmed former VCU assistant Will Wade as the next VCU head coach.
VCU expected to hire ex-Shaka Smart assistant Will Wade today, sources told ESPN. Wade has been head coach at Chattanooga the past 2 years.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) April 7, 2015
Though we won’t know for sure until there’s a press conference and Wade steps out to speak, here’s five reasons why those rumors are substantiated.
1) The high likelihood of the next head coach being from Shaka’s coaching tree
Jeremy Ballard has now interviewed for VCU HC position as well. Rhoades & Will Wade earlier this weekend. Decision likely Wednesday.
— District Baller (@DistrictBaller) April 6, 2015
All of the candidates confirmed to have been interviewed are from Shaka Smart’s coaching tree.
One is former assistant and current Rice University head coach Mike Rhoades, who left VCU a season ago, another is former assistant and current University of Tennessee-Chattanooga head coach Will Wade, and finally the current VCU assistant coach Ballard.
VCU has had discussions with UC Irvine head coach and Virginia native Russell Turner http://t.co/mgbfRFJP6O pic.twitter.com/Cx2IrlBXz5
— Mid-Major Madness (@mid_madness) April 6, 2015
Though the almighty and infamous rumor mill has cobbled together a few other names (including UC Irvine coach Russell Turner) that are not part of the Shaka Smart coaching cavalcade, it is unlikely VCU keeps as much of our current talent and committed recruits if we go with somebody new. Continuity is important for every facet of the program.
2) Rhoades being out of the picture
Received a text from Mike Rhoades saying he is no longer a candidate for VCU job. "It's God's plan."
— Greg Burton (@hardlyworkin950) April 6, 2015
Rhoades was the immediate frontrunner for the VCU head coach position the moment Shaka Smart was confirmed to be leaving for Texas. Rhoades was Shaka Smart’s right hand man for five years at VCU. Hiring him is the kind of program continuity that Athletic Directors only dream of.
@akw007runner Yea, if Rhoades was offered, he'd be at VCU. He wanted the job.
— District Baller (@DistrictBaller) April 7, 2015
Unfortunately, the powers that be have determined that Rhoades is not the right fit for our head coaching position. We know that Rhoades wasn’t offered the position, because he wouldn’t of said no to it.
Interesting, Mike Rhoades didn't say no, I'll leave that there, and that's from a great source. The guy we get better be worth it though!
— District Baller (@DistrictBaller) April 6, 2015
3) Ballard being inexperienced
The more I think about it, the more I think Jeremy Ballard isn't the fit VCU needs. Program shouldn't have to go with an unproven assistant.
— District Baller (@DistrictBaller) April 7, 2015
Ballard is a hot commodity, but not hot enough. Ballard is probably the most noticeable VCU assistant currently on the staff.
VCU, however, is not the job that is was just six short years ago when an assistant at Florida took over as head coach. VCU is no longer a school that can hire an assistant, its just too big of risk. This is a school that needs a head coach to take over.
@Havoc2015 Ballard is much less proven than either Grant or Smart, and program is much better. Must look long-term. Players just part of it.
— District Baller (@DistrictBaller) April 7, 2015
There was a singular distinct upside to hiring Ballard, however: recruiting. Ballard helped recruit incoming Class of 2019, who VCU is desperately trying to keep from moving to another institution. Unfortunately, that’s just not enough.
@Chappy_JC I think that's main appeal w Ballard, keeping recruits. Can't make a coaching decision on that. Wade's just better, more proven.
— District Baller (@DistrictBaller) April 7, 2015
Rest assured, however. With Shaka’s new staff at Texas full, Ballard will likely be offered the associate head coach job here and take it. Wade + Ballard is like Peanut Butter and Chocolate.
4) Wade’s high success and low age
I think Will Wade would be equally as strong a hire as Rhoades with big-time upside. He's the best recruiter out of all them + sharp mind.
— District Baller (@DistrictBaller) April 7, 2015
Wade is just 32-years-old and has a 40-25 record in two seasons with the UTC Mocs. The same rumor mill that has Wade coming here says that VCU talent will be staying. With that talent here, Wade could easily become one of the youngest 30-win season coaches. (Doesn’t hurt that he was the 2014 SoCon Coach of the Year!)
The man has the potential to become a coaching legend by starting out at head coach at 30 and taking a step to the big time with VCU. VCU has talent, recruiting power, a national name and a practice facility. Richmond will likely be thankful for Wade.
Shaka Smart's NCAA tourney record with Will Wade on staff: 7-3 (won at least 1 game every trip). Shaka's NCAA record without Wade: 0-2.
— Mat Shelton-Eide (@MatSheltonEide) April 7, 2015
5) Wade’s insane motivation
If you guys don't know this already, you will. Will Wade is married to the game. No one in the country will work harder than Will Wade.
— District Baller (@DistrictBaller) April 7, 2015
Wade is really committed to basketball. He works tirelessly at Chattanooga, and that would likely only be heightened by his hiring at VCU. Shaka Smart himself called him “an absolute star” and said that “no one will spend more time building relationships with student-athletes than Will” when he was hired at Chattanooga.
If I can’t convince you, just check out the words of Jeremy Lin, the player at the center of Lin-sanity:
NBA & Harvard star Jeremy Lin on Will Wade: “The one thing I’ll always remember about Coach Wade is that he outworked everybody else,”
— District Baller (@DistrictBaller) April 7, 2015
"Every day he was the first one there and the last to leave. Sometimes he just didn’t leave…he would just sleep at the gym. Coach Wade…"
— District Baller (@DistrictBaller) April 7, 2015
is a perfect example of how hard work pays off. He will be an amazing head coach for the Chattanooga men’s basketball team!”
— District Baller (@DistrictBaller) April 7, 2015
VCU could do much worse than Wade for their next head coach. He is young and charismatic, much like another coach when he came here six years ago. VCU’s success is likely not behind it, because where there’s a Will there’s a Wade.
