![Justin Gainey spinning a basketball on his finger]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1775568141/greensborodayorg/i6p00tph9c3o6jpcevbd/gainey.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1775568141/greensborodayorg/i6p00tph9c3o6jpcevbd/gainey.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1775568141/greensborodayorg/i6p00tph9c3o6jpcevbd/gainey.jpg","width":800}])
Justin Gainey ’96 is coming home to North Carolina. On April 2, 2026, he was introduced as NC State’s Men’s Basketball Head Coach, returning to the program where he starred as a point guard from 1996 to 2000.
Justin was one of the most accomplished players in Bengal basketball history, and his jersey was retired following back-to-back NCISAA state championships in 1995 and 1996. He also earned News & Record All-Guilford Player of the Year, NCISAA Player of the Year, and Conference Player of the Year honors both seasons.
Justin quickly made his mark at NC State. As a freshman in the 1997 ACC Tournament, he set a record that has never been matched, playing all 160 minutes across four games and earning ACC All-Tournament First Team honors as the Wolfpack ran to the title game as an eight seed.
After a professional playing career overseas and in the United States, Justin returned to NC State in administrative roles before embarking on a 19-year coaching journey through Elon, Appalachian State, Marquette, Santa Clara, Arizona, and most recently at Tennessee, where he served as associate head coach and defensive coordinator under Rick Barnes.