Will Wade began this week as the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men’s basketball coach.
Wednesday morning he was introduced as the new head coach at Virginia Commonwealth, and Thursday night he took part in the ceremonial first pitch with the Richmond Flying Squirrels of the Class AA Eastern League. Wade was a guest Thursday afternoon on “Press Row” on Chattanooga’s ESPN 105.1 FM.
Q: The CBS affiliate in Richmond reported Monday that Rice coach Mike Rhoades was going to get offered the VCU job, but then speculation quickly turned to you. When did you feel like the VCU post was yours?
A: “You can’t believe everything that’s out there in the media all the time. The whole time I kind of felt like I was in good position. I was just waiting to hear back from the athletic director (Ed McLaughlin) to see where everything stood. We worked our way through the process, but I always felt good about it. Luckily, it worked out my way.”
Q: What are the plans now for (UTC assistant coach) Wes Long?
A: “I’ve saved a spot for him on the staff here, depending on what happens in Chattanooga. I’m hopeful he’ll get the (head coach) job at Chattanooga, but if he doesn’t he’ll be able to come here to VCU.”
Q: How good of a coach could Wes be at UTC?
A: “He was a tremendous head coach and won a lot of games at Queens, a Division II school, and that’s a tough job. It would be like winning at Furman in the Southern Conference, and he took them to two NCAA tournaments and won some league championships. He’s a tremendous coach and would do a phenomenal job, but (UTC athletic director) David Blackburn knows what he’s doing.
“I’m obviously biased towards Wes, but he’ll hire the right guy.”
Q: VCU has more resources than UTC, but was there still any difficulty in the decision to leave after just two years?
A: “When I had to tell the team, it’s the toughest thing I’ve ever had to do in coaching. It was difficult to walk out on that, but this is just a unique opportunity here at VCU. I know what I’m getting into here because I’ve been here before, and there is a certain comfort level that comes with that.”
Q: What game will you remember most in your time here?
A: “Probably the UNC Greensboro game my first year, when we had 5,700 people in there. I think that was the 10th game in the 10-game winning streak, and it was just a really, really neat night.”
Q: What’s your biggest regret?
A: “It was just really hard leaving the kids. I cried for 10 minutes when I was up there talking to them. I didn’t get to finish Justin Tuoyo’s career out and some of those guys’ careers out, and I feel terrible for Casey (Jones) and Eric (Robertson), because this will be their third coach in four years. You don’t want anybody to go through that.
“I’ve been in touch with them, and I will always be in touch with them.”
Q: Turning to our rapid fire, what wound up being your go-to place to eat in Chattanooga?
A: “I loved Bluewater Grille.”
Q: What aspect of this town will you miss most?
A: “Running in the morning along the river.”
Q: Would you be up for a home-and-home series involving UTC and VCU?
A: “We may look at that in the future. We’ll see who’s there.”
Q: If I gave you 22 wins as the over/under for the Mocs next season, what are you taking?
A: “Over.”
Q: What’s your early over/under on VCU?
A: “I don’t know this team, so I’m not going to set that yet. I know that team much better.”
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.