Justin Gainey officially introduced as new NC State men's basketball coach
RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- NC State welcomed one of its own back into the fold Wednesday, formally introducing former Wolfpack guard Justin Gainey as the university's new men's basketball head coach.
"It's like a dream come true that still hasn't fully set in," said Gainey.
This is the first head coaching role for Gainey, who starred as a guard at NC State from 1996-2000.
"The first NC State basket made in this arena was made by your new head coach, Justin Gainey," said NC State McMurray Family Director of Athletics Boo Corrigan.
"I understand what being on Tobacco Road is all about," Gainey said.
WATCH: Gainey's full remarks
The announcement came after a turbulent week for the program, marked by Will Wade's sudden resignation and sharp criticism from school officials over how he handled his departure.
"We're here today to celebrate a new leader of this program who has everything that we need and has the right moral compass for this fanbase, who understands what NC State is all about, who truly is going to take pride in the name on the front of the jersey," said Corrigan.
Dozens of former players were in the crowd Wednesday, a notable show of support.
"The support has been through the roof as I knew it would because we're family. All of us in this room, we're family and we're all connected by a common bond," said Gainey.
Throughout his remarks, he expressed a commitment to character while laying out the style he plans to implement.
"You got to have a certain type of toughness to be here. If you look at my career, my path, I was never the tallest guy. I was never the fastest. I wouldn't say I always shot the ball the best, but the one thing that I pride myself on was toughness, and I tried to bring that every day. As long as I'm your head coach, you can count on that every single day," Gainey said.
"It's just great to have some sort of stability here," said Joe Giglio, an alum and popular social media personality with OG Media. "I don't think anyone questions Justin's intentions. I don't think anyone questions Justin's background. I also don't think anyone questions what the team is going to look like under Justin Gainey. When he says they're going to be tough, I believe him."
Gainey will be the third head coach in three seasons, following Kevin Keatts' dismissal and Wade's resignation.
"NC State's always kind of had a fractured alumni base because we've had so many different coaches in the last 40 years. And that was the one great thing about the Final Four (run) is you saw this group come together for really the first time. Even Justin just said he bought a T-shirt at the Final Four in 2024. And I think what's been missing since then is how do we get back to that point where you're all on the same page and all kind of pulling in the same way? Justin, this is his first (head coaching) job. There's going to be some things he's going to have to learn how to do. But he's going to have a great support staff here, and that starts with some of his former teammates and the people who played here, and they're more than happy to help him along the way," said Giglio.
Fans expressed an appreciation for his connection to the university.
"Loyalty is honestly one of the biggest things. This guy's loyal. He's got a good background. I think he can really turn the program around and build it up even more," added NC State graduate student Joseph Deneke.
"I'm from Raleigh, so I've been here all my life. For all 22 of those years, I've seen the program at its ups and downs. It's just great to have someone who's a part of the Wolfpack to come lead us," said NC State student Jameson Ollison.
Gainey also directly addressed the fanbase.
"Your passion, your pride, your determination to win at the highest level. And I'm excited, I'm excited more than you can believe to be here," Gainey said. "We're going to build this program which reflects your energy, your toughness, and your commitment."
Before Tennessee, Gainey worked at Elon, Appalachian State, Santa Clara, Arizona, and Marquette.
Former NC State teammate Brian Keeter said Gainey's personality off the court never diminished his competitive drive.
"Justin has a baby face, always laughing, but he's also a killer," Keeter said. "I remember him taking it easy on me when I was new, helping me through the process."
The High Point native has had a long and successful run as an assistant coach, most recently at Tennessee, where he was associate head coach under Rick Barnes. And now he's back where it all started.
"This is surreal. It's a surreal moment for me," Gainey said.
Contract details for Gainey have not been released at this time.
