Multiple reports emerged Monday indicating that NC State University is nearing completion of a deal to bring back alumnus Justin Gainey as the program’s new men’s basketball head coach. Gainey currently serves as associate head coach at the University of Tennessee.
The 49-year-old coach will step into the role vacated by Will Wade, who departed the program last week to return to his previous position at LSU. Wade led the Wolfpack to a 20-14 season record and secured an NCAA Tournament berth during his single year leading the program in Raleigh.
For the last five years, Gainey has been part of Rick Barnes’ coaching staff in Knoxville, where he helped guide the Volunteers to three consecutive Elite Eight appearances in the NCAA Tournament over the past three seasons.
This appointment marks Gainey’s first opportunity as a head coach. The former Wolfpack player suited up for NC State between 1996 and 2000, later building his coaching resume with assistant positions at Elon, Appalachian State, Santa Clara, Arizona, and Marquette before moving to Tennessee in 2021.
Barnes offered high praise for his departing assistant coach when speaking to The Athletic on Saturday. “I hope he gets the job,” Barnes stated. “I don’t think there’s anybody in the country that loves NC State more than Justin Gainey. … A terrific basketball coach. I mean, if you come to our walk-throughs, like today or the other day, he scouted the last game. I don’t say a whole lot because those guys have it.”
The Tennessee coach continued his endorsement, saying, “But Justin has an incredible feel for the game, really understands players. He works at it. Terrific recruiter. Understands the NIL era today. If NC State knew what I knew, they would be begging him to be their next head coach. Because he’s ready not just for NC State, he’s ready to be the head coach of the University of Tennessee or any school in the country. He’s that good.”
During his playing career under coach Herb Sendek, Gainey posted averages of 6.9 points, 2.7 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals across 128 games, starting 103 of those contests for the Wolfpack.
