First look: Justin Gainey introduced as NC State’s new basketball coach
By Ethan Hyman and
Kaitlin McKeown
New N.C. State head men’s basketball coach Justin Gainey is flanked by Athletic Director Boo Corrigan and Chancellor Kevin Howell after Gainey was introduced during press conference at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
Ethan Hyman
ehyman@newsobserver.com
Justin Gainey was officially introduced as the new N.C. State men’s head basketball coach during a press conference at the Lenovo Center Wednesday, April 1, 2026.
Gainey played at N.C. State from 1996-2000 under Herb Sendek, helping the Wolfpack to four straight postseason tournaments. He left the program ranked second all-time in starts (103), No. 4 in steals (190) and No. 9 in assists (344).
He worked at N.C. State from 2006-09, first as an administrative coordinator and then as director of operations under former head coach Sidney Lowe.
His resume also includes stops at Marquette, Elon, Appalachian State and Arizona before heading to Tennessee, where Rick Barnes hired Gainey as an assistant in 2021, and promoted him to second-in-command prior to the 2022-23 season.
Continue to check back for more images from the press conference.
New N.C. State head men’s basketball coach Justin Gainey speaks after he was introduced during press conference at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
New N.C. State head men’s basketball coach Justin Gainey is flanked by Athletic Director Boo Corrigan and Chancellor Kevin Howell after Gainey was introduced during press conference at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
New N.C. State head men’s basketball coach Justin Gainey talks with Cole Cloer after a press conference where Gainey was officially introduced as coach Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Cloer, a class of 2026 prospect, signed with the Wolfpack under Will Wade. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
New N.C. State men’s basketball head coach Justin Gainey shakes hands with Athletic Director Boo Corrigan at the start of a press conference at Lenovo Center on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Raleigh, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
New N.C. State head men’s basketball coach Justin Gainey and his wife Courtney are celebrated as they walk into the room for a press conference at the Lenovo Center to officially announce Gainey as the head coach Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
New N.C. State men’s basketball head coach Justin Gainey speaks with reporters following a press conference at Lenovo Center on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Raleigh, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
New N.C. State head men’s basketball coach Justin Gainey and Chancellor Kevin Howell laugh during press conference at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C., where Gainey was officially introduced as head coach Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
New N.C. State men’s basketball head coach Justin Gainey arrives to an introductory press conference at Lenovo Center on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Raleigh, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
New N.C. State head men’s basketball coach Justin Gainey talks with Wolfpack great T.J. Warren after a press conference at the Lenovo Center where Gainey was officially introduced as the new head coach Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
New N.C. State men’s basketball head coach Justin Gainey smiles during a press conference at Lenovo Center on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Raleigh, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
New N.C. State men’s basketball head coach Justin Gainey speaks during a press conference at Lenovo Center on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Raleigh, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
New N.C. State head men’s basketball coach Justin Gainey laughs at a statement by Athletic Director Boo Corrigan while sitting with Chancellor Kevin Howell during a press conference where Gainey was introduced as the new head coach at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
New N.C. State men’s basketball head coach Justin Gainey hugs Athletic Director Boo Corrigan after being introduced during a press conference at Lenovo Center on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Raleigh, N.C. Kaitlin McKeown kmckeown@newsobserver.com
Justin Gainey’s wife Courtney wipes a tear from her eye as Justin speaks during a press conference at the Lenovo Center where Gainey was officially introduced as the new head basketball coach Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
New N.C. State head men’s basketball coach Justin Gainey laughs while sitting next to Athletic Director Boo Corrigan during press conference at the Lenovo Center in Raleigh where Gainey was officially introduced as the new coach Wednesday, April 1, 2026. Ethan Hyman ehyman@newsobserver.com
This story was originally published April 1, 2026 at 4:15 PM.
