The coaching carousel took another turn Thursday when NC State head coach Will Wade spurned the Wolfpack to return to LSU after just one season in Raleigh. The move shakes up the coaching scene in the SEC and also opens up a head coaching possibility for Tennessee associate head coach Justin Gainey.
A former NC State point guard, Gainey is on multiple hot boards for the head coaching vacancy at his alma mater. Both On3 and CBS Sports included Gainey on their hot boards while the top Tennessee assistant was the first name on On3’s list.
“Sources have indicated that Justin Gainey’s name might sit at the top of the list for NC State,” On3’s Pete Nakos wrote. “He’s a proven high-major assistant and is a former player and staff member at NC State. He was a top name in the coaching search a year ago when they hired Will Wade. Gainey knows what expectations are at NC State and what the fanbase wants. There would be no pause to think about accepting an offer. He’s worked under Rick Barnes and Sean Miller.”
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” while the Vols have made four straight trips to the Sweet 16 including two trips to the Elite Eight.
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 14th nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency.
It’s the second straight season that the NC State head coaching vacancy has been open. Gainey was viewed as a candidate for his alma mater’s vacancy last season before they hired Wade away from McNeese State.
More From RTI: Tennessee HC Rick Barnes Details Vol Football’s Important Impact on UT Basketball
“Being a graduate and former player there and somebody who worked there, I’ve always kind of kept my eyes on NC State just watching them play and everything. I love NC State. It’s a great place,” Gainey said last season when they job came open.
“As far as me and my involvement, I’m focused on what we’re doing here. … The fact that I’m even mentioned, I’m flattered, and that’s in large part to what we’ve done here. I credit the guys I’ve had the opportunity to coach here. I credit Coach Barnes for giving me this opportunity to be even mentioned in such a great situation like that.”
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.
NC State finished with a winning record in all four seasons Gainey played in Raleigh but failed to make the NCAA Tournament all four years.
Gainey got his coaching start at NC State, spending four years on Sidney Lowe’s staff from 2006-09. He was an administrative assistant his first three seasons before becoming the Director of Basketball Operations in 2009. A Greensboro native who starred in high school at the Greensboro Day School, Gainey’s first assistant coach jobs also came in the state of North Carolina at Elon and Appalachian State.
Tennessee basketball resumes its run in the NCAA Tournament on Friday night when they face two-seed Iowa State in the Sweet 16. Tipoff is at 10:10 p.m. ET at the United Center in Chicago. Andrew Catalon, Steve Lappas and Evan Washburn are on the call for TBS and TruTv.
