RICHMOND, Va. -- Fan packed the Siegel Center Wednesday morning to welcome new VCU Rams head basketball coach Will Wade.
The former Rams assistant coach, who has been at or near the top of every search list since Shaka Smart announced he was leaving for Texas after six years with the team, said he feels like he never left Richmond and is thrilled to be back with at VCU.
Wade thanked former head coach Smart for hiring him in 2009. He said he has fond memories of being part of the staff that took the Rams to the Final Four in 2011.
Wade said he is committed to defending the team's A-10 Tournament Championship.
“The nut and bolts of our program will be very similar,” Wade said.
Wade has spent the last two years as head coach of UT-Chattanooga. He was named Southern Conference Coach of the Year after his first season and won 22 games this past season. Additionally, Wade branded his style of play “Chaos” teaming off the “Havoc” that Smart helped create at VCU.
But make no mistake, Wade said he has no major changes planned for the team.
“HAVOC still lives here,” Wade said as the crowd cheered. “I also know this… You still don’t want to go to war with the Rams.”
VCU Rams head basketball coach Will Wade
