NC State hiring Justin Gainey: Ex-Wolfpack guard returning to lead alma mater

NC State is hiring Tennessee assistant and former Wolfpack guard Justin Gainey as its next coach, sources tell CBS Sports’ Matt Norlander. Gainey, 49, spent the last five seasons on Rick Barnes’ staff with the Vols and has held the title of associate head coach since 2022.

Gainey, a native of Greensboro, North Carolina, led the Wolfpack to NCAA postseason appearances in all four seasons of his playing career at NC State and ranks in the program’s all-time top 10 in several statistical categories, including starts, steals and assists.

“I hope he gets the job,” Barnes said of Gainey before Tennessee’s loss in the Elite Eight NCAA tournament this weekend. “I don’t think there’s anyone in the country who loves NC State more than Justin Gainey. He’s from North Carolina. He went to NC State, played four years there, started four years. He helped win an ACC tournament.

“He’s just incredibly proud of his university. He’s a tremendous basketball coach. I mean, if you come to our visits, like today or the other day, he watched the last game. I don’t say much because these guys have it.”

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Matt Norlander

NC State’s decision comes after first-year coach Will Wade left for LSU last week. Before NC State’s loss to Texas in the First Four of the NCAA Tournament earlier this month, Wade dismissed rumors attaching his name to the Tigers.

NC State power officials quickly moved to interview Gainey and others in the wake of Wade’s departure. He wanted the job in Raleigh the last time it was open, and this time around he was an early favorite, according to 247Sports.

“Justin has an incredible feel for the game and really understands the players,” Barnes said. “He works at it. A tremendous recruiter. He understands today’s NIL era. If NC State knew what I knew, they would be begging him to be their next head coach. Because he’s not just ready for NC State, he’s ready to be the head coach at the University of Tennessee or any school in the country. He’s that good.”

Wolfpack had two training goals

247Sports reported that former NC State players expressed support for Gainey, who was one of two “top targets” for the vacancy along with Saint Louis coach Josh Schertz.

Schertz, who propelled Saint Louis to a 29-6 record this season as an NCAA Tournament qualifier, withdrew his name Sunday, citing in a social media post that he “turned down a lot more money this spring” to stay with the program.

“Other programs’ interest in our players and staff is a byproduct of the team’s success, so as uncomfortable as this may be, let’s hope it never changes,” Schertz wrote.

Gainey’s first assignment at NC State will be to assemble his team and figure out roster moves with the college basketball transfer portal opening in April. Gainey began his coaching career as administrative coordinator and director of operations at NC State under Sidney Lowe, then landed assistant jobs at Elon, Appalachian State and Santa Clara before earning his stripes at Arizona.

He was an associate head coach for the first time at his next stop at Marquette, where he spent one season before joining Barnes’ staff with the Vols. Gainey has been the brains behind Tennessee’s defensive improvements in recent years and will bring a pressure-on-the-ball system to the Wolfpack.