Wade Promoted to Basketball Director Of Operations

by Press Release - Wed Apr 26 13:00:00 GMT-04:00 2006

Clemson, SC - Clemson men's basketball head coach Oliver Purnell has named Will Wade the director of men's basketball operations for the Tiger program. Wade was promoted to the position after serving as the Tigers' graduate assistant coach during the 2005-06 season. He replaces Alex Welp, who left to go into business in Richmond, VA.

"I am very excited to continue working for Clemson University and head coach Oliver Purnell and the men's basketball staff," Wade said. "I believe great things are in store for the Clemson men's basketball program, and I am looking forward to helping the staff and players build a nationally prominent program."

This past season, Wade worked as a graduate assistant while taking classes in Human Resource Development. Among his duties were organization of recruiting, providing aid in opponent scouting, film work, and assisting with team travel.

Wade received his undergraduate degree in Secondary Education with an emphasis in History and Geography from Clemson University in May of 2005. During his four years at Clemson, he served as a student assistant and head manager for the men's basketball team. Wade's responsibilities included assisting with team and individual player workouts and practice, as well as aiding in team and opponent scouting. He also filmed and edited conference games. While assisting with official and unofficial recruiting visits, Wade helped maintain the recruiting database and create innovative recruiting mailouts. In a managerial role, he coordinated game day set-up of Littlejohn Coliseum and the locker rooms and distributed equipment to players.

Wade also served as the director for Purnell's team camps during the summer of 2003. In that capacity, he organized and supervised 97 teams, while coordinating officials for 10 different sites and 14 courts. Wade was also responsible for game scheduling, team lodging and meals, hiring of staff, gym set-up and transportation to all sites. In addition to that camp experience, he served as a coach and counselor at various other summer basketball camps from 2001-2004, including those held at Stanford, Kentucky, UCLA, Florida, Tennessee Tech and Vanderbilt.