North Carolina State is hiring Tennessee associate head coach Justin Gainey as the program’s new head coach, CBS Matt Norlander first reported Monday morning.
NC State brass interviewed Gainey in Chicago Saturday afternoon before hiring him two days later to take over the program at his alma mater. Gainey played at NC State from 1996-2000 and began his coaching career on Sidney Lowe’s staff from 2006-2010.
Gainey spent the last five seasons on Rick Barnes’ staff at Tennessee including four years as the Vols’ associate head coach. The Vols won the SEC Regular-Season and SEC Tournament, made four trips to the Sweet 16 and three trips to the Elite Eight during Gainey’s time on staff.
“I hope he gets the job,” Barnes said of Gainey’s candidacy at NC State. “I don’t think there’s anybody in the country that loves NC State more than Justin Gainey. He’s a North Carolina native. He went to NC State, played four years there, started four years. Helped win an ACC tournament. He has just incredible pride in his university. A terrific basketball coach. I mean, if you come to our walk-throughs, like today or the other day, he scouted the last game. I don’t say a whole lot because those guys have it.”
After Mike Schwartz left to be the head coach at East Carolina following the 2021-22 season, Gainey became Tennessee’s “defensive coordinator.”
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 finished the season ranked 14th nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency.
More From RTI: Will Jaylen Carey Return To Tennessee? What He Said About Future Following Elite Eight Loss
Gainey 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 replaces Will Wade as NC State’s head coach. Wade spent just one year as the head coach in Raleigh before bolting back to Baton Rouge as LSU’s new head coach.
Tennessee now has an assistant coach vacancy to fill. Rick Barnes could bring someone new into the program or promote from within. Director of Recruiting Lucas Campbell would likely be a top candidate if Tennessee keeps things in house.
There have been times when no Tennessee assistant coach has had the designation of “associate head coach” so Barnes does not necessarily have to fill that spot. In the past, Barnes has promoted from within for that role. Tennessee’s four other assistant coaches are Gregg Polinsky, Amorrow Morgan, Steve McClain and Bryan Lentz.
