VCU’s Wade takes LSU job

RICHMOND, Va. — Will Wade is taking over as LSU coach after guiding Virginia Commonwealth to the NCAA Tournament in both his seasons as coach.

LSU made the announcement Monday night on its athletics web site and Twitter. It said more details will come Tuesday.

The announcement was attributed to vice chancellor and athletic director Joe Alleva, who flew to Richmond on Sunday with deputy AD Eddie Nunez and met with Wade for several hours.

The 34-year-old Wade guided the Rams to a 51-20 record. He spent the two previous seasons at Chattanooga and is 91-45 overall as a head coach.

He replaces Johnny Jones, who was fired March 10 with two years remaining on his contract after the Tigers finished 10-21.

Boeheim’s plans change suddenly

Jim Boeheim says he fully intended for next year to be his last as Syracuse’s basketball coach, and he never thought otherwise until Sunday.

That’s when longtime assistant Mike Hopkins — and Syracuse’s coach-inwaiting — left to become head coach at Washington.

Boeheim said at a news conference Monday he never tried to change the agreement he made with the university to retire after next season.

“When this agreement was made with the chancellor and me and Mike Hopkins, I fully knew that next year would be my last year,’’ Boeheim said. “I never, ever thought anything else. Ever.’’

Boeheim says Hopkins informed him in a tearful meeting Saturday of the Washington offer.

The 72-year-old Boeheim thought Hopkins would be the best fit to succeed him. The university agreed, signing him as the head coach designate.

Athletic director John Wildhack says he quickly moved to keep Boeheim for the sake of continuity.

“My immediate thought was ‘I want to coach,’ ’’ said Boeheim, who will stay on for an undetermined period of time. “Immediately. I want to continue to coach.”