RALEIGH, N.C. – NC State’s McMurray Family Director of Athletics Boo Corrigan has announced that former NC State captain Justin Gainey will return to Raleigh as the new head coach of the NC State men’s basketball program.
Gainey, who has signed a five-year agreement, will be formally introduced as the 22nd head coach in program history on Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Lenovo Center. The private event will air live on the ACC Network and stream on GoPack.com and ACC Network Extra.
“I am honored to announce Justin Gainey as our new head coach for the NC State men’s basketball program,” said Corrigan. “Not only are we welcoming back one of our own, but we are welcoming a tough, tenacious and experienced coach who I am confident is the right fit for our program and will continue to position the Pack for success on the national stage. Justin understands what this program means because he has lived and breathed it and I am very excited that he is our basketball coach.”
“I’m humbled and honored to be the head coach of the NC State men’s basketball program,” said Gainey. “This university helped build me as a player and as a person. To now lead it as head coach is truly a full-circle moment. There’s a responsibility that comes with leading your alma mater, and I embrace it fully. We’re going to honor our tradition, represent this university the right way, and build a program our Wolfpack family can be proud of. This place means everything to me. I wore the jersey with pride, and now I’ll lead this program with that same passion, toughness and commitment to winning that defines the Wolfpack.”
“Today is a great day for NC State and our men’s basketball program,” said Chancellor Kevin Howell. “I could not be more proud that Justin Gainey is our new NC State head men’s basketball coach. The Wolfpack is bringing home one of our own.”
“As chancellor, an alum, and a devoted fan, I’m proud of NC State’s legacy in men’s basketball and am even more excited about our future. Our goals are to win championships, put a strong and competitive team on the court, and help our student-athletes become better players, students and people. Coach Gainey’s values reflect who we are at NC State and it’s what equips him to lead our program with integrity, humility and a relentless pursuit of excellence.”
Originally from High Point, Gainey was a four-year letterman (1996–2000) for the NC State men’s basketball team under head coach Herb Sendek and served as team captain during his senior season in 1999-2000, the first year the Wolfpack played in what is now the Lenovo Center.
Gainey appeared in 128 games during his NC State career, making 103 starts. His 344 career assists ranks among the program’s top 10 when he graduated and currently stands 15th in school history.
Known for his relentless defensive presence, Gainey recorded nine steals against Virginia on March 10, 2000, a number that still ranks second for a single game in program history and remains the ACC Tournament single-game record.
He finished his career with 190 steals, fifth-most in the Wolfpack record books.
Gainey ranks 12th all-time at NC State in games played (128), while his 103 starts and 3,835 minutes played both rank sixth in program history.
Gainey brings 20 years of Division I coaching experience to his new role, including 14 years at the power conference level.
He has spent the last five seasons at the University of Tennessee, including the last four as Associate Head Coach under Rick Barnes.
Gainey helped the Volunteers log a 134-48 (.736) record and reach the NCAA Tournament each season that he was on staff. During his tenure, Tennessee totaled four Sweet 16 berths and three Elite Eight appearances, as well as a pair of SEC titles (2022 tournament, 2024 regular season).
The team was ranked in the AP top 25 for nearly every week of Gainey’s four-year tenure, including earning 50 top-10 nods, and finished a program-best fifth nationally three times (2022, ‘24, ‘25). He coached five NBA Draft picks at Tennessee, including at least one each year with four selected in the top 40. He also helped eight individuals accumulate 11 total All-SEC honors.
When Gainey was promoted to Associate Head Coach prior to the 2022-23 season, he also assumed the duties of the team’s defensive coordinator. Under his tutelage, the Volunteers led the nation in KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency in the 2022-23 season with a historically strong mark of 87.5 points per 100 possessions. Tennessee’s scoring defense (57.9 ppg) was the best by an SEC team since 2014-15 and its 3-point defense (26.5) was the second-lowest among all Division I programs since at least 2007-08.
In 2023-24, Tennessee finished third in KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency (90.2) and totaled a 27-9 (14-4 SEC) record.
During the 2024-25 campaign, Gainey aided Tennessee to its first season that included 30 victories as the Vols finished third in KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency (89.7) and fourth in 3-point percentage defense (28.7).
In the most recent season, Gainey helped lead the Volunteers back to the Elite Eight, with the defense posting SEC-leading marks in scoring defense (68.9), field goal percentage defense (43.6%) and three-point field goal percentage defense (30.3%).
A former point guard, Gainey’s wisdom and experience helped Tennessee finish in the top-25 nationally in assist rate every year - including twice placing top-six - and post marks over 60 percent in each campaign. Additionally, Tennessee’s starting floor general—Kennedy Chandler in 2021-22, Zakai Zeigler in 2022-23, 2023-24, 2024-25 and Ja’Kobi Gillespie in 2025-26 — earned All-SEC status in all five years. Zeigler became the fourth player in SEC history to lead the league in assists three years in a row and the first to be a four-time All-SEC Defensive Team selection.
Prior to his successful tenure at Tennessee, Gainey spent the 2020-21 season as the associate head coach at Marquette. It was his second stint on Steve Wojciechowski’s staff, as he also worked with the Golden Eagles from 2014-17 as the director of basketball operations.
In between his stints in Milwaukee, Gainey spent one year as an assistant coach under Sendek at Santa Clara, 2017-18, and two as an assistant coach at Arizona, 2018-20 under Sean Miller, who was an assistant coach during his playing days at NC State. While with the Wildcats, Gainey assisted in the recruitment and development of 2020 NBA Draft picks Josh Green, Zeke Nnaji and Nico Mannion.
At Santa Clara, Gainey worked closely with the Broncos’ perimeter players, including first-team All-WCC performer K.J. Feagin. He was also instrumental in assembling a 2018 signing class rated among the 10 best mid-major classes in the country.
From 2010-14, Gainey was an assistant on Jason Capel’s staff at Appalachian State. His first on-court coaching role was at Elon in 2009-10.
Gainey began his coaching career at his alma mater, spending two seasons, 2006-08, as an administrative coordinator before head coach Sidney Lowe elevated him to director of basketball operations for the 2008-09 campaign.
A two-time graduate of NC State, Gainey received his degree in business administration, with a concentration in marketing, in 2000 and earned a master’s degree in sport management in 2006.
Gainey and his wife, Courtney, have three sons, Jordan, Jayson and Jaxson.
Gainey’s Coaching Timeline
2006-08: NC State, Administrative Coordinator
2008-09: NC State, Director of Operations
2009-10: Elon, Assistant Coach
2010-14: Appalachian State, Assistant Coach
2014-17: Marquette, Director of Operations
2018-20: Arizona, Assistant Coach
2020-21: Marquette, Associate Head Coach
2021-22: Tennessee, Assistant Coach
2022-pres: Tennessee, Associate Head Coach
What they are saying about Gainey
“Coach Gainey is the kind of leader you would want your son to play for and to represent your university. He is an elite recruiter, teacher and strategist, and as a distinguished Wolfpack Alum, he brings commitment, pride and the ability to galvanize the Wolfpack Nation. He is a proven winner and I have no doubt that he will elevate the proud and storied Wolfpack Basketball program to national prominence once again." - Herb Sendek, Santa Clara head coach; former NC State head coach from 1996-2006
“I am so thrilled for Justin Gainey to have this incredible opportunity at NC State, as well as excited for Boo Corrigan and the Wolfpack fans, who are getting a true winner. There is no doubt in my mind Justin is ready for this role and I have the utmost confidence he will excel as the head coach at his alma mater. Justin is an excellent basketball coach who can recruit, develop and maximize talent, as well as truly connect with the young men he leads. He is, most importantly, a wonderful person with a great family. Justin played a significant role in the success we’ve had here at Tennessee and I look forward to watching him do the same at NC State." - Rick Barnes, Tennessee head coach
