NC State found a coach that’s ‘committed to the university’ in Justin Gainey

By Noah Fleischman

Boo Corrigan stood at a podium on the third floor of Vaughn Towers at Carter-Finley Stadium last Thursday afternoon. NC State’s athletics director arrived to the press conference clad in a red and white button-down shirt and a sense of frustration about what happened in the previous 48 hours. 

He ran through the timeline of men’s basketball coach Will Wade’s messy departure for LSU. One that involved Corrigan feeling as if he was “lied to” throughout the process. And one that was capped by a no-show meeting and a resignation letter sent via email through Wade’s agent. 

As Corrigan stood to close the chapter on the brief Wade era — the shortest tenure by any coach in program history, topping Press Maravich leaving for LSU after two seasons in 1966 — he was quick to turn the page to the future. 

What traits was the next coach going to have? Corrigan ran through them, including a person with elite people skills, a standout recruiter and someone who can coach up a winning roster. 

But the biggest quality that Corrigan was looking for was one that was looking to get through the bad taste of Wade’s sudden exit: A candidate who desires to be at NC State.

“We are committed to finding the next coach for our men’s basketball program that wants to be at NC State; that understands who we are; that understands that we’re a tough school; that understands that we’re a great academic institution; that understands that our fan base has very high expectations, and can embrace that,” Corrigan said. “That’s what our mission is, and that’s what we’re going to accomplish.”

Corrigan spent all day Saturday on a private jet, criss-crossing the country, to visit the Wolfpack’s top candidates. The result led to NC State hiring Tennessee associate head coach Justin Gainey on Monday morning. 

Gainey, a 2000 graduate of the university after serving as a four-year standout on the court, seems to fit the qualifications that Corrigan set out to find. 

“We want to find the right person for NC State,” Corrigan said. “We need to make sure that we have a person that’s committed to this university, that wants to be at this university, that shares our values of trust and accountability to lead this program.”

Gainey has been in love with his alma mater ever since he set foot on campus, from leading the charge as a four-year starting point guard from 1996-2000, to beginning his coaching career as an administrative coordinator and director of operations under Sidney Lowe from 2006-08. 

His affection for NC State was clear throughout his career. Even as he rose through the ranks, including spending the past three seasons as Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes’ right-hand man and defensive coordinator — leading the Volunteers to three straight seasons of boasting a top-12 defense nationally.  

Barnes, who publicly stumped for Gainey on Saturday afternoon, believed the Wolfpack had an easy choice to hire his assistant. He went as far as to say the program should be “begging” to bring him in, especially based on his fondness for the university.

“I don’t think there’s anybody in the country that loves NC State more than Justin Gainey,” Barnes said. “He has just incredible pride in his university.”

Now, it’s Gainey’s job. 

It’s a position he looked to land a year ago, interviewing with Corrigan via Zoom before NC State quickly brought in Wade as the 21st coach in program history. Some thought he should have gotten it last year. Others believed the ship may have sailed as a result. 

But, instead, Gainey is right where he was meant to be. The High Point, N.C., native oozes passion for his home state, one he has recruited well over the years. And instead of bolting after a year like his predecessor, Gainey appears set to be in it for the long haul with an unmatched loyalty — one that several former players pushed for, including NFL legend Torry Holt and former Wolfpack star Chris Corchiani. 

After all, that’s exactly what Corrigan hoped to accomplish in finding Wade’s replacement.

“I believe we’re a school where someone can stay for 10 years and have an unbelievably great run here,” Corrigan said. “That’s 100 percent what we’re looking for. We don’t want to be a stepping stone on the way to another job. We thought we had that. In every conversation, every release that was out there, we believed that we had that. We’re going to go out and find someone again.”

Gainey checks the box. He holds NC State in a special place in his heart. It’s the place that molded him from an 18-year-old into the man he is today. 

And, after etching his name in the record book as a player, Gainey has the chance to cement his legacy in a new way: As the program’s caretaker and leader.

“NC State is a great place,” Gainey said hours after the job opened Thursday. “It is home.”