NC State expected to hire former star guard Justin Gainey as head coach
· Yahoo Sports
NC State is prepared to turn to one of its own as it prepares for the future. ABC 11 has learned that former Wolfpack guard Justin Gainey is expected to be named the program's next head men's basketball coach.
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"I'm excited to get a State guy back. Someone is going to be here for a while," said Henry Nichols, President of the Student Wolfpack Club.
Gainey, a North Carolina native, starred at NC State from 1996-2000 before building a coaching résumé that spans Marquette, Arizona, Santa Clara, Appalachian State, and Elon. He worked on Sidney Lowe's staff at NC State as an administrative coordinator from 2006-2008.
"(McMurray Family Director of Athletics) Boo Corrigan said it -- he wants a guy who is here for the school, wants to represent the red and white on and off the court, and Justin Gainey is that guy," Nichols said.
"I think we're going to give him the best he could ask for as far as the fan support. As students, we were loud this year, but I expect this to be that loud, if not louder next year," said Will Zieverink, who is also with the Student Wolfpack Club.
Gainey has spent the past five seasons as an assistant at Tennessee under head coach Rick Barnes, who praised the longtime assistant's strengths.
"I hope he gets that job, because I don't think there's anyone in the country that loves NC State more than Justin Gainey. He's a North Carolina native. He went to NC State (and) played four years there. Started four years ... He's just got incredible pride in his university. Terrific basketball coach. If you come to our walkthroughs, I don't say a whole lot, because those guys have it. He's got an incredible feel for the game. He really understands players. He works at it, terrific recruiter. (He) understands the NIL era today," Barnes said during media availability at the NCAA tournament last week.
Zieverink said familiarity with the region could help Gainey connect quickly.
"I think it's very important to have a guy who understands NC State and that basketball is different in the Triangle," he said. "And for a guy who's going to come and take over, it's important to know that and understand it."
If hired, Gainey would be the first first-time head coach at NC State since Everett Case, who led the program from 1946-1964. A statue of Case, who is a Basketball and College Basketball Hall of Famer, is up outside Reynolds Coliseum on campus.
Pending approval from NC State's Board of Trustees, the school will introduce their next men's basketball coach (Justin Gainey) on Wednesday at 2PM.@ABC11_WTVD
— Kate Rogerson (@KateRogersonTV) March 30, 2026
"It's very much a gamble, very much a swing for the fences type of hire, in my opinion, where there is some risk with it being a first-time head coach. But there's also a lot of excitement, a lot of possibilities. With him being an alum, he'll have a little bit of a leg up where he understands the area (and) he'll be able to have those relationships in state where he can recruit and build the team. I think that there is reason for cautious optimism with Justin Gainey," said Noah Teague, an NC State senior who is a staff writer for Technician, the student-run newspaper.
Gainey would be the third head coach in three seasons, following Will Wade and Kevin Keatts.
"College basketball more than ever is a year-to-year proposition," said Teague. "For NC State, it's about turning the page for next season, and after next season, you start and rebuild it again, hopefully with Coach Gainey."
News of the expected hire surfaced the same day former NC State coach Wade was introduced at LSU. Wade has faced scathing criticism from Wolfpack fans and university leaders over his handling of his departure, a concern he addressed during his introduction.
"I long ago quit worrying about my perception. That part doesn't bother me too much. Here's what I'm going to say. I'd like to focus more on what's going on at LSU. NC State was great to me. I think some of the things have been mischaracterized on how I left. I learned long ago I'm not going to get into a back-and-forth on all of that. The people who need to know, know. Look, when there's a situation like this, everybody has to cover, let's put it this way," Wade said. "I'm at peace with how I left. I'm at peace with what we did. And look - they're pretty mad for a coach they didn't think was very good."
An emergency meeting of the Board of Trustees has been called for Tuesday at 3 p.m. to "consider a personnel matter." While the specifics of the matter are not publicly announced, it is typical for the Board to discuss a contract of this nature.
N.C. State announced that it will hold an event at the Lenovo Center at 2 p.m. on Wednesday for "Men's Basketball Head Coach Introduction." Corrigan, Chancellor Kevin Howell, and the new men's basketball head coach are on tap to speak.