Magnolia School District

Emmanual Wade has been named Head Varsity Boys Basketball Coach for the Magnolia School District. Coach Wade is a 2003 graduate of the University of Mississippi where he received his Bachelor of Arts in Art/Graphic Design and a minor in Criminal Justice.  

As a four-year letterman for University of Mississippi’s Men’s Basketball Team from 1999-2003, he has won an SEC Western Division Championship, appeared in post-season tournament play three consecutive years, including a 2020 NIT appearance and two NCAA tournament appearances in 2001 and 2002. 

In the past nine years as a coach and educator, he has worked with students of all ages during his career as a teacher, case manager and crisis intervention specialist. Some of his major strengths are building basketball programs, athlete and player development, relationship building, creative thinking, technological innovation, problem-solving, long-range planning, and the ability to communicate with diverse populations. 

Coach Wade established himself as a proven winner with an overall coaching record of  

138-35 as head basketball coach in six seasons. He attained fifteen championships over the past five seasons. At his alma mater, Lee High School in Marianna, Arkansas, he led his teams to three conference titles, three district tournament titles, and three regional tournament titles, all in 2020 – 2022. During this time, he was also named the Outstanding Coach of the Year for three consecutive years. His team won the 2021 2A State Championship. He led his teams at Lee High School and Marion High School to state playoff appearances in 2020-2024, while reaching three consecutive runs to the final four in 2020-2022. In his most recent position as the interim head coach at Marion, his team earned an overall record of 19 -5, placed second in the 5A East with a 12-2 conference record, and a bid to the 5A State Playoffs.  

Other accolades received by Wade include the KARK 4 Community Service Award in 2018 for his leadership, youth involvement, and ability to foster community growth and being named the Marianna Chamber of Commerce Teacher of the Year Award in 2021. He enjoys the challenges of education and working with administrators, teachers, parents, and students. Coach Wade is committed to developing and creating opportunities for each student he encounters.