Basketball
Farnham: Will Wade’s ‘going back to a program that he left in shambles’ (1:00)
Sean Farnham reacts to Will Wade’s decision to leave NC State after one year and return as the coach at LSU. (1:00)
Mar 30, 2026, 09:52 AM ET
Former player Justin Gainey, who has spent five seasons as an assistant with Tennessee, is expected to return to NC State as the Wolfpack’s next head basketball coach, sources confirmed to ESPN on Monday amid multiple reports.
Gainey, 49, played for NC State from 1996 to 2000 and later began his foray into coaching as an administrative coordinator at the school from 2006 to 2008. He will replace Will Wade, who left the Wolfpack last week after one season to return to LSU.
Gainey was on NC State’s short list last year and was believed to be one of the final candidates before the Wolfpack hired Wade.
Gainey has spent the past five seasons on Rick Barnes’ staff at Tennessee, including the last four as associate head coach. Gainey also has served as an assistant at Elon, Appalachian State, Santa Clara, Arizona and Marquette.
NC State got off to an 18-6 start (and 9-2 in the ACC) before losing six of its final seven games to end the regular season. The Wolfpack were ultimately placed in the First Four on Selection Sunday and lost to Texas, finishing the season with a 20-14 mark.
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