Will Wade hires assistants, NC State BOT approves bonus structure. Here’s what to know
After newly hired N.C. State men’s basketball coach Will Wade added three assistant coaches, the university’s board of trustees on Thursday approved a performance-based bonus structure for those on Wade’s staff.
The program recently announced the addition of Brandon Chambers, Vernon Hamilton and Adam Howard.
Based on the approved bonus structure, the trio of assistant coaches — and any who follow — will receive bonuses if the team meets certain academic and athletic benchmarks.
Assistant coaches will receive non-cumulative bonuses if the team wins 10 conference games or 18 regula-season games; 12 conference games or 20 regular-season games; 14 conference games or 22 regular-season games; or 16 conference games or 24 regular-season games. The bonuses range from $3,750 to $15,000.
Similarly, assistants will receive a $10,000 bonus if the team wins the ACC regular-season title.
Wade’s assistants receive non-cumulative bonuses based on the team’s success in the ACC Tournament as well. A first-round appearance is worth $500 and gradually increases to $10,000 for an ACC Championship.
NCAA Tournament bonuses are set the same way. Assistants receive $5,000 for an appearance if the team earns a spot in the First Four and increases to as much as $100,000 for a national championship.
They receive additional bonuses based on finishes in the final AP or USA Today Coaches rankings.
Support staff is also eligible for smaller bonuses if the team wins the conference regular season, makes the ACC title game, wins the ACC title, reaches the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 or wins the national title. Staff earns half a month’s salary for a regular-season title. Bonuses for the ACC and NCAA Tournament are listed at one month’s salary, with the exception of a national title, which increases to a month and a half salary equivalent.
Howard joins Wade’s staff after spending three seasons at Nebraska. With Howard on the bench, the 2023-24 Cornhuskers went 23-11. That was the second-highest win total in school history and the team made the NCAA Tournament field for the first time in 10 years.
He was Wade’s first official hire.
“Adam is a great coach with a proven record of building programs,” Wade said in a statement. “He’s everything you want in an assistant coach with his ability to recruit, game plan and develop players. He has an excellent tactical offensive mind and will do a great job on that side of the court for our team.”
Chambers comes to Raleigh after spending time on Wade’s staff at LSU and McNeese State. He also worked alongside Wade at VCU; Chambers served as a manager while Wade was an assistant. In the last two seasons, Chambers helped the Cowboys earn their 58-11 record and back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances.
“I’m excited to add Brandon to my first staff at N.C. State,” Wade said. “I’ve known Brandon for 15 years, and he is one of the brightest young coaches in the game. He has the ability to recruit high-level talent and also possesses a great ability at teaching the game, especially defensively, which he will specialize here at N.C. State.”
Finally, Wade welcomed Hamilton to N.C. State this week. Hamilton worked at McNeese and LSU under Wade. He also played at Clemson when Wade was a manager and graduate assistant.
Hamilton played for the Tigers from 2004-07 and leads the program in career steals (271), steals in a single season (83, 2005-06), career steals per game (2.13) and single-season steals per game (2.68, 2005-06). He was an All-ACC Defensive Team selection in 2005 and played professionally. Hamilton was part of the 2009 Colorado 14ers NBA G League Championship roster in 2009.
Wade told reporters during his first media availability that he hoped to have a core staff complete in order to recruit and start the transition process. He hoped the full staff would be complete shortly after the Final Four.
Men’s basketball bonus structure
| Achievement | Assistant bonus | Staff bonus |
Single-year federal graduation rate of 70% - 79% | 2,500 | |
Single-year federal graduation rate of 80% - 89% | 5,000 | |
Single-year federal graduation rate of 90% - 99% | 7,500 | |
Single-year federal graduation rate of 100% | 10,000 | |
| Four-year graduation success rate of 70-79% | 2,500 | |
Four-year graduation success rate of 80-89% | 5,000 | |
Four-year graduation success rate of 90-99% | 7,500 | |
Four-year graduation success rate of 100% | 10,000 | |
| Single-year academic progress rate of 970-979 | 2,500 | |
Single-year academic progress rate of 980-989 | 5,000 | |
Single-year academic progress rate of 990-999 | 7,500 | |
Single-year academic progress rate of 1,000 | 10,000 | |
Win 10 conference games or 18 regular season games | 3,750 | |
Win 12 conference games or 20 regular season games | 7,500 | |
Win 14 conference games or 22 regular season games | 11,250 | |
Win 16 conference games or 24 regular season games | 15,000 | |
| ACC regular season champions | 10,000 | 1/2 month salary |
Seeded No. 4 or better in ACC Tournament | 10,000 | |
| ACC Tournament first round appearance | 500 | |
ACC Tournament second round appearance | 1,000 | |
ACC Tournament quarterfinal appearance | 2,500 | |
ACC Tournament semifinal appearance | 5,000 | |
ACC Tournament finals appearance | 7,500 | 1 month salary |
ACC Tournament championship | 10,000 | 1 month salary |
| NCAA Tournament First Four appearance | 5,000 | |
NCAA Tournament Round of 64 appearance | 7,500 | |
NCAA Tournament Round of 32 appearance | 12,500 | |
NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance | 25,000 | 1 month salary |
NCAA Tournament Elite Eight appearance | 37,500 | 1 month salary |
| NCAA Tournament Final Four appearance | 50,000 | 1 month salary |
| National championship appearance | 75,000 | 1 month salary |
| National championship | 100,000 | 1 1/2 month salary |
| Final Top 25 ranking | 5,000 | |
| Final Top 10 ranking | 10,000 |
This story was originally published April 3, 2025 at 4:33 PM with the headline "Will Wade hires assistants, NC State BOT approves bonus structure. Here’s what to know."
