Desmin Wade has been named the General Manager and assistant coach at Grambling State following an impressive tenure at James Hubert Blake High School in Silver Spring. At Blake, he compiled a staggering 91-35 record over five years, guiding the program to four Division Championships, one County Championship, and five Regional Championship appearances.
Wade’s leadership was instrumental in the 2024-2025 season, when the Bengals achieved a 19-1 regular season record, tied for the best in Maryland, and earned a spot in the Washington Post All Met Sports top 25 rankings.
In recognition of his outstanding accomplishments, Wade was honored as the James Hubert Blake Coach of the Year. Under his guidance, the team showcased exceptional talent, including sophomore phenom Baba Oladotun. Oladotun, ranked as the nation’s top sophomore by ESPN, made history by becoming the first basketball student-athlete at Blake to be selected First Team All-Met.
Before his transformative impact at Blake, Wade served as head coach at High Point High School, where he led the team to its first regional final in over 15 years during the 2018–19 season. His earlier career included three seasons at Washington Adventist University in Takoma Park, Maryland. Initially joining as a graduate assistant while earning his master’s degree, he later served two years as Defensive Coordinator and Director of Basketball Operations, playing a crucial role in guiding the Shock to a National Championship in 2014.
A native of Forestville, Maryland, Wade’s connection to basketball runs deep. He played guard at Washington Adventist University for two seasons after starting his collegiate career at Montgomery College Germantown, a program that ranked 4th among junior colleges in 2008. With a rich background as both a player and coach, Wade brings a wealth of experience and proven success to his new role at Grambling State.