Justin Gainey is returning to Raleigh. NC State finalized an agreement on Monday to hire the 49-year-old as the 22nd head coach of its men’s basketball program.
The swift move resolves a sudden leadership crisis for the university. Last week, former head coach Will Wade abruptly abandoned the Wolfpack to take his old job at LSU. Wade left the program scrambling just days after finishing a 20-win season and making a First Four NCAA Tournament appearance. Athletic Director Boo Corrigan and NC State leadership moved immediately to fill the void.
The deal came together fast, according to a detailed report released Monday. Corrigan secured the agreement in Chicago. Negotiations accelerated right after Tennessee’s season concluded with a 95-62 loss to Michigan in the Elite Eight on Sunday.
NC State will hire Tennessee assistant Justin Gainey to be their next head coach:
Gainey, 49, played for NC State from 1996 to 2000 and began his coaching career as an administrative coordinator with the Wolfpack from 2006 to 2008.
Gainey served as the #Vols associate head… pic.twitter.com/J3Vn10rz3v
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This is Gainey’s first collegiate head coaching role. For the past five seasons, he worked on Rick Barnes’ staff at Tennessee. He operated as the Volunteers’ associate head coach and defensive coordinator since 2022. Under his guidance, Tennessee built a physically imposing roster, consistently ranking in the Top 5 in national defensive efficiency.
NC State desperately needs that exact defensive stability right now. Mid-season adversity often requires intense coaching adjustments, similar to the chaotic roster shifts that recently pushed programs like St. John’s into the NCAA Sweet 16. Gainey brings 19 years of assistant coaching experience across the country, with previous stops at Elon, Appalachian State, Santa Clara, Arizona, and Marquette.
He also brings deep ties to the university. The Greensboro native played point guard for NC State from 1996 to 2000. He started 103 games for the Wolfpack. He served as a senior captain. He led the team to an NIT semifinal. Now, he returns to the sidelines to lead his alma mater.