NC State Investigating Potential Legal Claims Against LSU Over Will Wade Exit

N.C. State is investigating potential legal claims against LSU tied to men’s basketball coach Will Wade leaving for a second stint coaching the Tigers. That includes whether LSU violated a North Carolina state law.

N.C. State vice chancellor and general counsel Allison B. Newhart wrote to LSU counterpart Carlton Jones last week about the matter, a development first reported by WRAL in Raleigh. The letter was later obtained by The Associated Press in a records request.

According to N.C. State, it has received three email messages from LSU asking the school to "sign a release of claims" against LSU in the Wade matter.

Newhart's letter from last Thursday states the school "has not agreed — and does not agree now — to release LSU from any liability" tied to Wade’s departure after one season with the Wolfpack in March.

"Instead, N.C. State is investigating whether LSU improperly induced Coach Wade to breach his Employment Agreement, induced Coach Wade to terminate his Employment Agreement, and interfered with the timing of termination of the Employment Agreement to result in lower liquidated damages – all to N.C. State’s detriment," Newhart wrote.

That includes whether LSU violated the state’s Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act; violations can result in financial damages and attorney fees.

Reached by the AP on Wednesday, N.C. State spokeswoman Lauren Barker said the school had no additional comment beyond the letter's contents. LSU spokesman Michael Bonnette declined comment to the AP.

LSU hired Wade on March 26, two weeks after Wade publicly stated he was determined to win big at N.C. State in Year 2.

The buyout in Wade’s contract was for $5 million, but was scheduled to drop to $3 million after April 1. At the time,