Justin Gainey Named N.C. State Men's Basketball Coach

0:00NC State just made it official, naming Justin Gainey, their new men's basketball head coach at a press conference on April 1st, 2026. At the Lenovo Center, Gainey starred for the Wolfpack from 1996 to 2000 under Herb Sendeck, leading them to four straight postseason runs. He finished his playing days, ranked second all time, and starts with 103, fourth in steals at 190, and ninth in assists, with 344. Earlier in his career, Gainey returned to NC State from 2006 to 2009, starting as an administrative coordinator and moving, up to director of operations under Sydney Low. From there, he built his resume at spots like Marquette, Elon, Appalachian State, and Arizona. What stands out is how Gainey's deep ties to the program make him a natural fit, blending player legacy with real staff experience. Fancy him as a homegrown leader ready to elevate the pack, drawing on those wolfpack routes that run generations deep.

1:01Fast forward to Tennessee, where Rick Barnes brought him on as an assistant in 2021 and bumped him to associate head coach before the 2022-23 season. That big lead polish under a legend like Barnes sets Gainey up for success right out the gate. As images from the intro keep rolling in, all eyes turned to Gainey's first moves in Raleigh, where he's primed to pack the house and chase banners. This has been Durham News Today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story.