RALEIGH – The uniform was the same, but there was something different this time.
Justin Gainey was introduced as the 22nd men’s basketball coach at N.C. State University. Like the previous coach, Gainey wore a gray suit with a tie showing off the school colors. But there would be no talk of a “Red Reckoning” or quick turnarounds. The main talking points were toughness and values, the latter music to the ears of the hundreds of supporters in attendance.
Gainey, the former Wolfpack point guard, was named head coach on Monday in a quick turnaround, replacing Will Wade, who made a quick exit from Raleigh after one rocky season.
Gainey comes from Rocky Top, having spent the previous five seasons at Tennessee, the last four as associate head coach under Rick Barnes. But Wolfpack Nation has one of its own this time, a North Carolina native who recognizes the toughness of Tobacco Road and the traditions and passion that come with N.C. State basketball.
“I’m just so excited to be here,” Gainey, 49, said. “It’s home. I’m excited to be back home.”
The High Point native played at Greensboro Day School before becoming part of Herb Sendek’s first class at State. Instead of Reynolds Coliseum, the press conference took place in Lenovo Center, where Gainey apparently scored the first basket in the building when it was named the Raleigh Sports and Entertainment Center.
Surrounded by athletic director Boo Corrigan, chancellor Kevin Howell and two rows of his family seated in front of him, Gainey looked at home.
Howell called it a “full-circle” moment, as Gainey returns to Raleigh after stops as an assistant at Elon (2009–10), Appalachian State (2010–14), Santa Clara (2017–18), Arizona (2018–20), Marquette (2020–21) and Tennessee (2021–26).
As a player from 1996–2000, Gainey appeared in 128 games, starting 103. His 344 career assists rank 15th in school history, and his 190 steals rank fifth in the record books.
Gainey told the crowd that his bread and butter is toughness, and that’s what they can expect from the team he puts on the floor starting next season.
“If you look at my career, I was never the tallest, never the fastest. I wouldn’t say I always shot the ball the best,” Gainey said. “But one thing that I prided myself on was toughness. I tried to bring that every day and as long as I’m your head coach, you can count on that every day.”
The term “Wolfpack ain’t for soft people” was coined by legendary quarterback Philip Rivers and has been tossed around frequently over the past week.
Corrigan had to move quickly to replace Wade, and Gainey was one of the first names fans called for. Corrigan said he first officially met Gainey at a retirement event for a staff member a year ago, but Gainey was on their radar even before they hired Wade.
“We’re here today to celebrate a new leader of this program,” Corrigan said, “who has everything that we need and has the right moral compass for this fan base. Someone who understands what N.C. State is all about and who is truly going to take pride in the name on the front of the jersey.”
Gainey signed a five-year agreement for his first head coaching job and told the crowd there was no need to worry about what some might consider a lack of experience.
“I’ve been in a unique situation where I’ve been under some really high-level coaches, and we’ve done a lot of high-level things at every stop I’ve been at,” Gainey said. “I’ve won SEC tournaments, SEC championships. From all those experiences, you learn and take something from each one. As I go through my career and think about those moments, I’m pulling from each of those situations. There are not a lot of people who have been where I’ve been.”
With the landscape of college athletics — especially amid a coaching change — Gainey will first try to retain and recruit his own roster, namely Paul McNeil Jr. and Matt Able, before turning to his home state. He also added that the Pack will be aggressive in the transfer portal.
Regardless of what kind of roster he assembles in the next few months, for now, State fans are glad they got their guy. Their guy is home, happy and eager to restore a winning feeling in Raleigh.
“This is a special place with a proud tradition,” Gainey said. “To Wolfpack Nation, I promise you we are going to build a program that reflects your energy, toughness and commitment.”
