Trending Now - Justin Gainey Poised to Become NC State's New Head Coach

WHO:

On3 - Justin Gainey, age 49, is a candidate for the head basketball coach position at NC State.

ESPN - Justin Gainey is currently an assistant coach at Tennessee and is a former player for NC State.

WHAT:

On3 - Gainey declined to comment on the NC State basketball coaching search.

On3 - Gainey met with NC State representatives regarding the vacant basketball coach position.

On3 - NC State is seeking to replace Will Wade, who had a record of 20-14 in his only season with the team.

ESPN - Sources indicate that NC State is set to hire Justin Gainey as their next head basketball coach.

WHERE:

On3 - The meeting between Gainey and NC State representatives took place in Chicago.

On3 - NC State is located in Raleigh, North Carolina.

WHEN:

On3 - Gainey met with NC State representatives on Saturday, March 28th, 2026.

On3 - Tennessee's basketball season ended on March 29th, 2026, after losing to Michigan in the Elite Eight.

On3 - Gainey was hired as an assistant coach at Tennessee in April 2021.

WHY:

On3 - NC State is looking to fill the head coach position after Will Wade left to return to LSU.

HOW:

On3 - Gainey has been coaching for 20 years and has held various positions, including administrative coordinator and director of basketball operations at NC State.

(UPDATED March 30, 2026 17:22 UTC)

Justin Gainey, currently an assistant coach at Tennessee and a former player for NC State, is a candidate for the head basketball coach position at his alma mater following a meeting with NC State representatives in Chicago on Saturday. The school is looking to replace Will Wade, who finished his only season with a record of 20 wins and 14 losses before leaving to return to LSU. Sources indicate that NC State is set to hire Gainey, who has two decades of coaching experience, including various roles at NC State itself.