He worked under head coaches Larry Shyatt and Oliver Purnell, who gave him further opportunities as a graduate assistant (2005–06) and Director of Basketball Operations (2006–07).

Tommy Amaker then brought him in as his first hire as Harvard men's basketball coach where he was responsible for helping to recruit a top 25 class for the program.

The VCU Rams were one of only five teams nationally to win 27 or more games in each season from 2009 to 2013 (the others being Duke, Kansas, Syracuse and Ohio State).

In 2013, Wade left his assistant coaching position at VCU to lead the Chattanooga Mocs basketball program.

On March 7, 2019, it was reported that Wade discussed an offer to a recruit, which was overheard on a Federal Bureau of Investigation wiretap.

[4] Wade described the payment as a "strong-ass offer", and in the transcripts he is quoted as saying that he was frustrated with the situation: “I’ll be honest with you, I’m fucking tired of dealing with the thing.

[9] On August 25, 2020, reports surfaced that the investigation into the numerous alleged recruiting violations by Wade is ongoing and headed to an independent panel.

Two separate NCAA committees have referred LSU's case to the IARP (Independent Accountability Resolution Process, a system formed in response to a Condoleezza Rice-led commission on college basketball).

Should this panel issue a formal 'notice of allegations' to LSU as a result of this investigation, that would put an end to the three year, highly controversial tenure of Wade, based on the renegotiated contract of 2019.

He was terminated as coach on March 12, 2022 after the NCAA formally served the Notice of Allegations based on the investigations into the above reports of recruiting violations.