The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1540860
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2025 ■ 13 TRACKING THE PACK Coach Will Wade's Wristbands Serve As Daily Reminders F or as long as NC State men's basket- ball coach Will Wade can remember, he's worn at least one rubber wristband on his right arm. The bracelets have changed over the years, but the point has remained the same: They serve as reminders to the first-year Wolfpack coach to stay grounded. These days, Wade wears three brace- lets on his right wrist. The thin, pink one says "breathe" on it, a straightfor- ward reminder to calm down in the heat of battle on the court. Underneath it is a black one from NBA consultant Phil Beckner that reads "Be Better," a simple yet powerful phrase that Wade has carried with him through his career. The idea, Wade said, is that "if we want to be the best, obviously we have good talent, but we've got to look at things differently and do things dif- ferently." Wade's most prominent wristband is about double the thickness of the oth- ers, a purple rubber band about an inch tall with "#Forever44" appearing in gold writing. It's not there for motiva- tion like the other two. Rather, it's a me- morial for former LSU forward Wayde Sims, who was murdered the day before the Tigers' 2018 preseason practices be- gan ahead of Wade's second season as head coach in Baton Rouge. It's a story that nearly brings tears to Wade's eyes seven years later. He has worn the wristband ever since that Sep- tember 2018 tragedy, in which Sims was shot and killed while protecting a friend in a fight after a concert. "The worst day of my coaching ca- reer," Wade said. "Everybody always says, 'Coach, it must have sucked to get fired.' No. It sucks to watch a kid you care about carried into the morgue out of the hospital at 3:45 in the morning with a bag over him." Sims' memory remains strong with Wade. The coach felt like the forward was "turning a corner and had changed his life" under his tutelage. He had fol- lowed in his father's footsteps of wear- ing the No. 44 at LSU. His dad played alongside Shaquille O'Neal years before. But it all changed in the blink of an eye. "I was really proud of him," Wade said. "Sometimes you look up at the clock and it's 1:44 or there are 44 sec- onds left, and you just have a peace about you. It's like, 'Man, we're going to figure this thing out.'" Wade paused several times to col- lect himself while speak- ing about Sims and the wristband he has worn ever since. Sims' death seemed to change the way Wade connects with his players, inspiring him to show his affection and support for them at every opportunity. The 42-year-old coach is tough on his players in practice, but he's always there shortly afterward to pick them up. Each wrist- band on his right arm helps with that in its own way, but Sims' purple bracelet ap- pears to be the most pow- erful. It serves as a tribute to a player who was taken too soon — and a reminder to Wade to never take any moment with his team for granted, on or off the court. "It just reminds me to love my guys every day," Wade said. "Make sure you do. You never know when the last time you'll see them is." — Noah Fleischman Throughout his coaching career, Wade has worn rubber bracelets bearing messages aimed at keeping him grounded. PHOTO BY NOAH FLEISCHMAN A PERCENTAGE OF EVERY HOME SALE GOES TO SUPPORT ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH AND CARE. McKeeHomesNC.com | 910-672-7296 PROUD TO SUPPORT THE NC STATE WOLFPACK Faye eville | Raleigh | Pinehurst | Wilmington