Overview
- NC State, which secured Board of Trustees approval Tuesday and announced the move that day, introduced former Wolfpack guard Justin Gainey as head coach at a Wednesday afternoon event in Raleigh.
- Gainey signed a five-year contract, according to the school and the Associated Press.
- The 49-year-old returns from five seasons on Rick Barnes’ Tennessee staff, where he served as associate head coach and defensive coordinator and was credited with driving strong on-ball pressure and top-tier defensive efficiency.
- He fills the vacancy left by Will Wade, who departed after one season to return to LSU following a late slide that ended in a First Four loss to Texas.
- Athletic director Boo Corrigan moved quickly after interviewing Josh Schertz and Bob Richey, and Gainey now must assemble a staff, keep key players from leaving when the transfer portal opens April 7, and lean on North Carolina ties to stabilize recruiting.