Justin Gainey introduced as NC State’s next men’s basketball coach
DAVIS FOR WXII 12 NEWS. OKAY, THANKS, JOSH. THE WAIT IS OVER FOR NC STATE BASKETBALL FANS. THE WOLFPACK OFFICIALLY INTRODUCED THEIR NEW HEAD COACH TODAY, JUSTIN GAINEY, WHO IS RETURNING TO RALEIGH ABOUT 26 YEARS AFTER PLAYING IN HIS FINAL GAME WITH THE WOLFPACK AS A GUARD. WXII 12 SPORTS DIRECTOR JON JOHNSON WAS THERE FOR TODAY’S BIG INTRODUCTION. HE JOINS US LIVE NOW OUTSIDE. JON, NOT A BAD HOMECOMING. NOT A BAD HIRE. NO, NOT AT ALL. CABE. AND YOU MENTIONED IT WAS A HOMECOMING AND IT REALLY FELT LIKE THAT THE PEP BAND AND THE CHEERLEADERS, YOU HAD FORMER PLAYERS, FORMER TEAMMATES OF JUSTIN GAINEY, ALL HERE IN ATTENDANCE FOR THIS CELEBRATION, AS CORRIGAN CALLED IT. AND YOU THINK ABOUT THE STARK CONTRAST OF WHAT LAST WEEK LOOKED LIKE WITH BILL WADE DEPARTING AFTER WHAT HE CALLED A RED RECKONING HERE IN RALEIGH TO JUSTIN GAINEY, WHO KNOWS THIS PROGRAM AND KNOWS WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A WOLF BACK BETTER THAN ANYONE. NOW, THERE IS SOME RISK WITH THIS HIRE, RIGHT? HE IS A FIRST TIME HEAD COACH NOW. HE SPENT 19 SEASONS AS AN ASSISTANT COACH, AND HE SPENT THE LAST FIVE WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE. HE’S GOTTEN SOME ADVICES FROM SOME COACHES THAT HE’S WORKED ALONGSIDE ABOUT WHAT IT’S GOING TO BE LIKE TO BE IN THE HEAD CHAIR MOVING FORWARD. THE BIGGEST THING IS TO BE YOU DON’T TRY TO BE ME. DON’T TRY TO BE COACH BARNES. DON’T TRY TO BE SHAWN MILLER. DON’T TRY TO BE HERB SENDEK. BE YOURSELF AND BE COMFORTABLE IN THAT. YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE. YOU’LL BE ABLE TO PULL FROM ALL DIFFERENT EXPERIENCES. BUT I KNOW WHAT I WANT MY TEAM TO LOOK LIKE. I KNOW WHAT I WANT IT TO FEEL LIKE I WANT. I KNOW WHAT I WANT IT TO SOUND LIKE. AND THEIR BIGGEST THING IS DON’T DEVIATE FROM THAT. AND GUYS COMING UP LATER TONIGHT, WE’LL HEAR MORE FROM JUSTIN GAINEY ABOUT GETTING THIS JOB HERE AT NC STATE. WE’LL ALSO HEAR FROM HIS FORMER COACH, FREDDIE JOHNSON, WHO COACHED HIM AT GREENSBORO. HE MADE THE TRIP TO COME SEE THIS CELEBRATION FOR NOW. REPORTING HER
Justin Gainey introduced as NC State’s next men’s basketball coach
Updated: 9:46 PM EDT Apr 1, 2026
The wait is over for Wolfpack basketball fans. NC State University officially introduced its new head coach, Justin Gainey, who is returning to Raleigh 26 years after his last game as a player. Gainey will be the 22nd head coach for NC State men’s basketball. Gainey previously served as the associate head coach at Tennessee for four years. During his time with the Volunteers, he helped the program remain competitive, reaching three Elite Eight appearances in the past 3 seasons. “I know what I want my team to look like. I know what I want it to feel like. I know what I want it to sound like,” said Gainey.There is a risk baked into the hire, as Gainey is a first-time head coach, but he has seen success at every stop.Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscastsNAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love |Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here
The wait is over for Wolfpack basketball fans.
NC State University officially introduced its new head coach, Justin Gainey, who is returning to Raleigh 26 years after his last game as a player. Gainey will be the 22nd head coach for NC State men’s basketball.
Gainey previously served as the associate head coach at Tennessee for four years. During his time with the Volunteers, he helped the program remain competitive, reaching three Elite Eight appearances in the past 3 seasons.
“I know what I want my team to look like. I know what I want it to feel like. I know what I want it to sound like,” said Gainey.
There is a risk baked into the hire, as Gainey is a first-time head coach, but he has seen success at every stop.
Watch: NOWCAST streaming newscasts
NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Watch NOWCAST TV | Local News | National | News We Love |
Keep up with the latest news and weather by downloading the WXII app here