Another power five head coaching job came open Sunday when Georgia Tech fired Damon Stoudamire after three years as the Yellow Jackets’ head coach. According to one report, Tennessee associate head coach Justin Gainey could be a candidate for the opening.
On3’s Joe Tipton included Gainey on his initial hot board for the Georgia Tech opening with sources telling Tipton that the veteran assistant coach will be in the mix. Tipton’s initial hot board included just four names— Belmont’s Casey Alexander, Troy’s Scott Cross and UNC Wilmington’s Takayo Siddle.
There’s one connection between Gainey and the Georgia Tech search. First-year Georgia Tech Director of Athletics Ryan Alpert was previously at Tennessee including a stretch as the men’s basketball sports administrator. Alpert and Gainey will have a relationship from that time working together though it is unclear how close the two are.
Georgia Tech was one of the worst power five teams in the country this past season, posting an 11-19 record in the regular season and currently ranking 162nd in KenPom.
Gainey joined Rick Barnes staff ahead of the 2021-22 season and became Tennessee’s associate head coach a year later when Mike Schwartz left for the head coaching job at East Carolina. Over the last four years at Tennessee, Gainey’s served as the Vols’ “defensive coordinator.”
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The Vols have consistently been great on the defensive end under Barnes but ranked No. 1, No. 3 and No. 1, again, in KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency during Gainey’s three years as the “defensive coordinator.” They have taken a step back this year but still rank 15th nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency.
Gainey has also been the lead recruiter for a number of players during his time at Tennessee including Nate Ament, Bishop Boswell, Jonas Aidoo, Freddie Dilione and Troy Henderson.
The 48-year old assistant has experience in the ACC as a player. Gainey played at NC State from 1996-2000 where he started at point guard in 103 of his 128 games played. The 6-foot guard landed on the 1997 All-ACC Tournament Team when he played all 160 minutes of the Wolfpacks’ Cinderella run to the championship game before eventually falling to North Carolina.
After breaking onto the scene as a freshman, Gainey went on to have a strong college career. His best statistical season came during his junior year when he averaged 8.8 points, 3.8 assists, 2.9 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game.
Gainey has been a candidate at a number of mid-major jobs in recent years and was also on hot boards for the NC State opening last offseason before the Wolfpack hired Will Wade.
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