Even before officially joining the famed Atlantic Coast Conference, Will Wade sent shockwaves through the league.

Five days before being introduced to the ACC as North Carolina State’s newest head coach, Wade beat one of the conference’s old guards.

He made history in doing so.

Wade became the first McNeese coach to win an NCAA Tournament game when his Cowboys upset 12th-ranked Clemon last Thursday in the first round of the Midwest Regional in Providence, R.I.

The victory was also the first time McNeese beat a ranked team in program history. It highlights Wade’s two-year rehab stint with the Cowboys, who were 58-11 during his era.

McNeese lost Saturday to Purdue, 76-62, ending Wade’s tenure as the school’s head coach with a season record of 28-7. Tomorrow, in Raleigh, North Carolina, he will be introduced as the new top dog by the N.C. State Wolfpack.

However, he won’t soon forget his two years in Lake Charles.

“I’m so glad we got to get that historic tournament win for McNeese and the community before we left,” said Wade. “This place and these people have done and meant so much to me. I will never forget them.”

Wade came to McNeese searching for a way to rebuild his career after he was fired from LSU due to a recruiting scandal. He also came to rebuild a basketball program that was one of the worst in the country.

“I’ve always been a believer in second chances,” said Wade. “I needed someone to embrace me, and the town needed someone to embrace them. It just worked. I can’t explain why, but it did.”

McNeese won back-to-back Southland Conference titles and were 40-2 against league rivals during Wade’s tenure. They also beat rival Louisiana-Lafayette two years in a row.

“Think about it: two years ago, we were one of the worst 30 teams in the country,” Wade said. “Now, we were in the Round of 32.”

He leaves the program much better than he found it.

“I think it’s important for Poke Nation to reflect on how far we’ve come,” said McNeese Athletic Director Heath Schroyer. “What Coach has done here and what we’ve built in two short years is historic. The future has never been brighter.

“Right now, McNeese is one of the best mid-major basketball jobs in the country. The standard has been set, and the foundation laid.”

Schroyer says he is ready for the next move.

“I’ve been prepared for this for some time, and I’ll act swiftly to secure the next coach who understands our championship expectations and embraces them.”

While Schroyer would not confirm nor deny reports Baylor’s Bill Armstong, Wade’s top assistant at LSU, is the man in line for the job, he did say he hoped to have a decision sometime this week.

Wade sounded like he wanted to stay close to the McNeese program.

“Hopefully, I’ll always be a part of it,” Wade said. “Whatever happens next, our program here is in great shape. We’re not dumb. We have a plan to keep this program rolling no matter who is at the helm. This program will keep winning.”

A press conference is planned at N.C. State on Tuesday for Wade’s official announcement. The Cowboys could make their coaching announcement as early as Wednesday.

The transfer portal for players opened Monday.