25 worst coaching hires in the history of college basketball
By Joey Loose
10. Bob Wade – Maryland (1986-1989)
- 36-50 record (3 seasons)
For four decades, the Terrapins were led by a pair of fantastic and legendary head coaches in Lefty Driesell and Gary Williams. Driesell built the first lasting success for the program, making Maryland into an ACC power in the ’70s, while Williams delivered the first national championship for the Terrapins in 2002. However, there was actually a coach employed between these two legends, but the tenure of Bob Wade is wrought with disaster.
Bob Wade was a very successful high school, leading Dunbar High School in Baltimore and turning them into one of the best programs in the nation, producing players like Muggsy Bogues and Reggie Lewis. He was brought into the Terrapins program after the death of Len Bias and subsequent actions led Driesell to leave the program. There had been bad blood between Wade and Driesell for years, but Wade was brought in mainly to clean up the program. That did not happen.
On the court, things were a disaster, as Maryland went winless in ACC play in their first season under Wade. He lasted just three years, not because he only won 9 games in two of those three seasons, but because he was forced aside after more NCAA violations popped up, stemming from recruiting and other actions during Wade’s time with the school. His NCAA Tournament appearance in 1988 was vacated and the Terrapins were placed on probation for three years. Next came Gary Williams, a brilliant hire who actually cleaned up the program, while Wade faded into obscurity.