When NC State athletic director Boo Corrigan announced that they were parting ways with the head coach Kevin Keatts, the college basketball world was caught off guard. Just a year ago, Keatts had put together a Cinderella run to the Final Four, cementing his place in Wolfpack history. But this season was far from anything like that. NC State suffered an embarrassing loss to the worst team in the ACC, capping off a disappointing campaign that ended with an early exit from the conference tournament. Keatts himself put it bluntly: “Basketball is a year-to-year thing.” Now, with Keatts out, the focus shifts to the future—who will lead NC State next?

Upon closer inspection, the news isn’t entirely surprising. Last year’s Final Four run was also pretty unexpected, and Keatts was already on the hot seat. The Wolfpack stumbled to the finish line in the 2023–24 regular season, losing their final four games and ending with a 17-14 overall record, including a 9-11 mark in ACC play. Their only real shot at making the NCAA Tournament was to win the ACC Tournament—something they hadn’t done since 1987.

Fast forward to now, and the team finished with a dismal 12-19 overall record and a 5-15 mark in ACC play. As is obvious, this time, there were no late-season miracles. Hence, the reasons were clear, and behind the scenes, work has already begun for Boo Carrigan to find a successor. According to On3 Sports’ Joe Tipton, the Wolfpack has two names near the top of their wish list- Will Wade and Ryan Odom.

Wade’s name is probably the most interesting case because he was at the top of NC State’s list in 2017 when they were looking for a new coach. However, he chose to explore the possibility of returning to his alma mater, Clemson, and the Wolfpack hired Keatts instead. His track record is indeed impressive. He turned Chattanooga into a winner, kept VCU competitive, and had LSU rolling with top-tier recruits. But with the controversy surrounding his recruiting and bribery allegations, which led to a 2-year show-cause penalty, his chances could be affected.

Right now, Wade is running the show at McNeese State, where under his leadership, the Cowboys shot up the Pomeroy Ratings like they had a cheat code. Even Aaron Torres, the Fox Sports Radio voice, held Wade as the prime candidate. Torres referred to NC State as a “sleeping giant,” suggesting that Wade’s understanding of modern basketball dynamics could be instrumental in awakening the program’s potential. ​

If Will Wade is the flashy, controversial choice, Ryan Odom is the guy you bring home to meet your parents. He’s best known for leading the greatest upset in NCAA history, when 16-seed UMBC toppled No. 1 Virginia in 2018. That game alone made Odom a legend—and possibly the worst nightmare of any top-seeded team ever since.

His biggest appeal? Stability. With the college basketball world resembling the Wild West thanks to NIL deals and the transfer portal, NC State might appreciate a coach who keeps things simple: recruit well, develop players, and don’t end up in an NCAA investigation. Odom doesn’t just have the resume, he has the pedigree as well.

But there’s more to Ryan Odom’s case. He’s got VCU on the verge of clinching the Atlantic 10 regular-season title and boasts an NCAA tournament victory. With ties to Virginia and whispers linking him to Villanova should a vacancy arise, it’s clear that Odom’s coaching future is one to watch closely!

While Boo Carrigan continues his search for NC State’s new head coach, Joe Tipton is confident that the athletic director has a clear idea of who he’s hiring next. Tipton added, “I’d be surprised if it weren’t either Will Wade or Ryan Odom.” That said, whoever is hired as the successor will face a tough task in replicating what Coach Kevin Keatts accomplished during his 8 seasons in charge.

Kevin Keatts is proud of the job he did at NC State

“I am extremely proud of what we accomplished during my time here,” said Keatts in his farewell message on X- and he has every right to feel that way. Keatts spent eight seasons at the helm, leading NC State to three NCAA tournaments. He wrapped up his time in Raleigh with an overall record of 151-113, including a 69-84 mark in ACC play. Keatts also expressed gratitude for his time at NC State, stating, “The last eight years have been a dream come true”.

The Wolfpack struggled in 2021 and 2022, finishing with a combined 25-36 record over those two seasons. But Keatts turned things around in 2023, guiding NC State back to the NCAA tournament before last season’s historic ACC and NCAA tournament runs. Winning the ACC tournament for the first time since 1987 and securing a Final Four berth for the first time since 1983 will undoubtedly be the highlight of Keatts’ legacy at NC State.

Whoever steps in to replace Keatts- whether it’s Will Wade or Ryan Odom. They will have their work cut out for them. Matching Keatts’ legacy won’t be easy and may never be fully replicated. But for now, a program like NC State will be focused on consistently qualifying for the ACC tournament and building toward regular NCAA tournament appearances. Stay tuned for more updates.