Big 12 Basketball: 4 potential candidates for OK State to replace Mike Boynton

Will Wade, McNeese State head coach

The most controversial of the potential coaching candidates for Oklahoma State to consider on their shortlist among the four on this list is McNeese State Cowboys head coach Will Wade. That's because Wade recently was caught up in a scandal that led to his departure a few years ago with the LSU Tigers.

Oklahoma State was involved in an FBI scandal of its own within the last decade, leading to some harsh sanctions from the NCAA that cost the Pokes NCAA Tournament eligibility for one year and a loss of scholarships for recruiting.

What makes Wade a potentially attractive candidate to some of these higher-profile job openings at power conference schools is the fact that he's had success at the major conference level already. He's also proven that he can essentially resurrect a mid-major program out of nowhere given what he's done at McNeese State this year.

Wade has led McNeese to a Southland regular season title and the program's first ever 30-win campaign this year. McNeese had not won over 22 games in a season before Wade took over as the head coach entering the 2023-24 campaign.

If Oklahoma State is willing to take the risk by hiring Wade while hoping that the past troubles don't resurface, it's not out of the question that he could be a top candidate to fill the job opening in Stillwater this offseason.