As the Tennessee basketball offseason approaches, there will be changes to the roster and coaching staff, and less than 24 hours after an Elite Eight loss to Michigan, Tennessee's first domino has fallen. Tennessee associate basketball coach Justin Gainey has reportedly accepted the position to become the new head coach at NC State, according to college basketball insider Jon Rothstein.
Rick Barnes answers retirement speculation immediately after brutal loss to Michigan
This move doesn't come as any surprise, especially after Saint Louis' Josh Schertz took his name out of the running; all signs pointed towards Gainey. He has been a top assistant in college basketball over the past few years and has attracted significant interest from other programs.
Sources: NC State is finalizing a deal to hire Tennessee's Justin Gainey as its next head coach.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 30, 2026
This is bittersweet for Tennessee
The way I see it, this is great, and alarming at the exact same time. Focusing on the good news first, you can't help but feel like this is the perfect landing spot for Gainey. He has worked hard as an assistant, starting as an administrative coordinator at NC State in 2006. Now, 20 years later, Gainey gets to be the head man at his Alma Mater, where he played in the late 90's and the place where he started his coaching career. What an accomplishment.
On the other hand, Tennessee is now dealing with the loss of its top assistant and defensive coordinator. Gainey has been a huge part of the Vols’ defensive identity over the years, so there’s no denying this one stings. That said, just like with players, it’s a next-man-up mentality. The expectation would be that Rick Barnes looks within and promotes from the current staff, but you never know.
In many ways, Gainey has proved he can be a very successful head coach. He is a guy who can scheme up an opponent, and he's responsible for plenty of NBA Draft picks during his career. Plus, when it comes to high school recruiting, he proved he can land five-star players, like Nate Ament, for whom he was the primary recruiter.
I know Tennessee fans are wishing coach Gainey all the best during his time at NC State and are thankful for having him in Rocky Top.