Wade agrees to contract amendments
Published 6:00 pm Thursday, April 25, 2019
LSU coach also forfeits performance bonuses
As part of his deal with LSU to be reinstated as basketball coach, Will Wade forfeited his bonus for the team’s accomplishments this season and agreed to changes in his contract that would make it easier for the school to fire him if he is accused of serious NCAA violations.
His bonus for the Tigers winning the Southeastern Conference regular-season title and reaching the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament would have been $250,000.
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As reported Wednesday by SI.com through a public records request, Wade also agreed to amendments to his contract that would allow LSU to fire him with cause for committing NCAA Level I or Level II violations — or even if the NCAA issues a formal notice that Wade was involved in a Level 1 or Level 2 violation.
The NCAA defines a Level I violation as a “severe breach of conduct,” while Level II is a “”significant breach of conduct.”
The agreements came following an April 12 meeting between Wade and LSU officials. That meeting ended a stalemate after Wade had refused to meet with officials following his suspension on March 8. He was reinstated on April 14.
The suspension came after Wade’s name surfaced in a Yahoo! Sports story that quoted him on an FBI wiretap claiming to have made a strong “offer” to a recruit named Smart. LSU signed Javonte Smart who after his freshman season declared for the upcoming NBA draft.
Wade will be answering to a new athletic director, Scott Woodward, who was hired away from Texas A&M for a six-year, $1.1 million contract.
