One year to the day after he was fired from LSU amid NCAA controversy, Will Wade is back in college basketball.

The 40-year-old Wade was hired Sunday as head coach at McNeese State, a Southland Conference school located in Lake Charles, La. He takes over a Cowboys program that fired coach John Aiken after a 22-45 record in two seasons, including 11-23 this year.

“I’m so excited to welcome Coach Wade, his wife Lauren and daughter Caroline to Southwest Louisiana and McNeese!,” athletics director Heath Schroyer said. “This is a completely different job than it was three years ago. McNeese basketball is one of the best jobs in the nation in regards to one-bid leagues. We are funded at the top of the league, have the best facility, a passionate fan base and many other built-in advantages. I will not make excuses for why we can’t win and win big. Quite frankly, there is no excuse.

“The days of us celebrating making conference tournaments or accepting mediocrity in all of our sports, let alone in basketball, are over.”

Wade went 105-51 in five seasons at LSU, including the SEC regular-season championship in 2019. However, his tenure became mired in controversy after news of an FBI wiretap emerged, on which Wade was heard telling aspiring agent Christian Dawkins his program had made a “strong-ass offer” during the recruitment of LSU guard Javonte Smart in 2017.

Wade was suspended by the LSU athletics department for the 2019 postseason, but was later reinstated. He was fired last March after the NCAA charged him with five major violations, including “offering inducements” that were perpetrated “after substantial planning,” according to the Notice of Allegations.

Wade was also accused of obstructing the NCAA investigation and unethical conduct. LSU fired him shortly after the formal accusations became public.

Every LSU player with eligibility remaining transferred away after Wade was fired. The Tigers went 14-19 and finished last in the SEC standings this season under first-year coach Matt McMahon.

McNeese State has not won its conference regular-season championship since 2011 and has not made the NCAA tournament since 2002. It’s still possible Wade could face serious sanctions from the NCAA, however.

A Clemson graduate, Wade has also been head coach at Chattanooga (2013-15) and Virginia Commonwealth (2015-17). He has an overall record of 196-96, with five NCAA tournament berths.