The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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MAY/JUNE 2026 ■ 25 years, he isn't looking to imitate any of them. He will incorporate methods that worked at other successful programs, but NC State will bear his stamp. "As I go through my career and I think about those moments, I'm pulling from all those different situations," Gainey said. "I can't be Rick Barnes. I can't be Herb Sendek. I'm Justin Gainey. I'm pulling from all those things I learned. While there may be some people with more experience in different positions, there aren't a lot of people who have been where I've been." Relationships Are Key Gainey has always been known as a standout recruiter. His ability to forge bonds with players and their families is unmatched. He helped assemble three top-10 recruiting classes at both Arizona and Tennessee, and those hauls might not even represent his best work. While at Appalachian State, Gainey identified Raleigh (N.C.) Broughton point guard Devonté Graham at an early stage of his recruiting process. One of the 2014 class's hidden gems, Graham committed to the Mountaineers early. He ultimately backed out of his signed letter of intent and ended up at Kansas, where he became Big 12 Player of the Year in 2018, but his strong interest in a mid-major program like App State was a testament to Gainey's scouting acumen and persuasive abilities. "That was all Justin Gainey," Capel said. "Justin is the one who saw Devonté Gra- ham and saw what he could be, saw his talent. He led the charge for us to even be able to get that commitment when we did. He's the one who evaluated Devonté Graham and saw that he could be someone who turned into a Big 12 Player of the Year and NBA player for so long." Gainey has prided himself on being the kind of coach who can build an au- thentic bond with players and their inner circles. It's helpful in recruiting, and while the transfer portal has provided a roster- building shortcut, personal connections still matter. "Everything is about relationships," Gainey said. "People may try to camou- flage it with money, NIL, playing time, whatever you may say. But it comes down to having a relationship with the young men, with their circle, with their coaches, with their parents. … If you can develop a relationship, then you can work through any problem." Gainey views the bond with his team as one of the most important factors in get- ting the most out of players. He's a proven talent developer who helped Tennessee rank in the top 15 nationally in defense for five consecutive seasons. "When they know that you care about them, they'll run through a wall for you," Gainey said. "If they know it's all trans- actional, if they think it's all just about basketball and you could care less about their personal life, when times get hard, they're going to quit. … I never want to be that guy." Impacting Lives Gainey's introductory press conference at NC State felt more like a pep rally than a passing of the baton to the next head coach. The room was filled with former players streaming in from all directions, while the Gainey family sat in the front two rows beaming. The event signaled a new era of NC State basketball, one in which a former player will lead the charge. Gainey has breathed new life into the Wolfpack, and despite not having any collegiate head coaching experience before this, he appears ready for the challenge. Sendek said his former point guard is exactly what the program needed, call- ing him the "complete and total package." Thornton, too, is confident that Gainey is the right man for the job. "He's held every position you can have as a coach, and now this opportunity comes along to be the head coach," Thorn- ton said. "I think the timing is right, and I think he's prepared for it and knows what it takes. And at the end of the day, this is his alma mater, so you'll never have to question how hard he's going to work." Gainey has been a grinder his entire ca- reer. It all began when he was coaching middle school basketball at Cary Acad- emy. Those early games might not have gotten much attention, but the experience put Gainey on a path that has turned into a full-circle moment. "What you remember from those early days are not necessarily the games," Gainey said. "I can't even remember who we played, but it's the bus rides back. It's the questions they asked about playing. That's what coaching is about." Once again, Gainey is set to impact the lives of those in the Triangle. He'll get to do so with the logo that he fell in love with as a high school recruit at Greensboro Day on his quarter-zip on the Lenovo Center sideline leading the Wolfpack. ■ The Gainey File PERSONAL Hometown: High Point, N.C. Education: NC State, 2000 (B.S., business administration); 2006 (Master's, sport man - agement) Family: Wife, Courtney; Sons, Jordan, Jayson, Jaxon COACHING CAREER 2026- NC State, head coach 2022-26 Tennessee, associate head coach 2021-22 Tennessee, assistant coach 2020-21 Marquette, associate head coach 2018-20 Arizona, assistant coach 2017-18 Santa Clara, assistant coach 2014-17 Marquette, dir. of operations 2010-14 Appalachian State, asst. coach 2009-10 Elon, assistant coach 2008-09 NC State, director of operations 2006-08 NC State, admin. coordinator PLAYING CAREER 1996-2000 NC State Gainey started 103 games in his four-year playing career with the Wolfpack. The point guard finished with 344 assists, a total that ranks 15th in program history. PHOTO COURTESY NC STATE ATHLETICS