Tennessee is losing a valuable member of its coaching staff, as associate head coach Justin Gainey has reportedly agreed to be the next head coach at NC State.
On3’s Pete Nakos was the first to report the move as official. This is an amazing opportunity for Gainey, who at 49 is getting his first head coaching opportunity. It’s a natural fit, considering Gainey is an NC State alum and had an administrative role with the program from 2006 to 2009.
Gainey originally joined the Tennessee staff as an assistant coach in 2021. It took only one year for the assistant to be promoted to associate head coach, and he remained in that role through the 2025-26 season.
While Gainey was on staff in Knoxville, the Vols had arguably their best stretch in program history. The Vols lost in the Elite Eight to Michigan on Sunday, but have still managed to make the Elite Eight in three consecutive seasons.
Gainey was also responsible for bringing his son, Jordan, to Tennessee for two seasons. The younger Gainey provided a valuable scoring punch off the bench for the Vols and became a fan favorite for his personality and hustle.
Now, the elder Gainey will go back to a school he knows very well and try to lead the program to new heights. The Wolfpack went on a surprising run to the Final Four in 2024, but missed the tournament in 2025 and lost in a play-in game in 2026.
Will Wade left the Wolfpack after just one season to return to LSU. Now, instead of another splashy hire, the Wolfpack are turning to a graduate who has experience with the program and knows what it will take to win consistently.
