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Rick Barnes says NC State should hire Gainey: “There is nobody that loves NC State more than Justin Gainey.”

Pack Pride Staff

Published

3 months ago

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In an interesting turn of events, Rick Barnes, who was asked about NC State’s interest in Tennessee Associate Head Coach Justin Gainey, gave his full support of him being hired away.

NC State fans have had an infatuation with Rick Barnes ever since he got in Dean Smith’s face as the coach of Clemson. Now, he’s hyping their former point guard for their head coach opening.

Justin Gainey joined Barnes’ staff as an assistant coach prior to the 2021-22 season and was promoted to associate head coach before 2022-23.

The two first crossed paths on the court in the late 1990s. Gainey was the PG and captain at NC State from 1996-2000.

Both are North Carolina natives (Barnes from Hickory, Gainey from High Point/Greensboro area), which has always given them a natural connection. When Barnes hired Gainey in April 2021 from Marquette (where Gainey had just finished a stint as associate head coach), Barnes highlighted their history right away:

“I coached against Justin when he was the point guard at N.C. State. He was an incredibly tough competitor then and he has that same tenacity now as a coach. Justin has a passion for on-court player development that fits well with our staff. Our players are going to love working with him to grow their game. He’s proven that he can recruit effectively nationwide and we’re particularly excited about his ability to maintain our strong ties throughout the state of North Carolina.”

When he gave Gainey a promotion to associate head coach (and defensive coordinator duties), Barnes called him “an outstanding addition to our program” who had “earned this enhanced role through his steadiness, daily approach and work ethic.”

Impact and Contributions Since Joining the Staff

Gainey’s arrival has coincided with Tennessee really hitting their stride with consistent top-10 KenPom rankings, multiple Sweet 16s and Elite Eights, SEC titles, and historically elite defense. He’s widely credited as the defensive coordinator who has helped make the Vols one of the toughest, most disciplined teams in the country. Tennessee’s defense has finished no lower than third nationally in KenPom adjusted defensive efficiency in multiple seasons since he joined (including #1 in 2022-23 with a record-setting 87.5 points per 100 possessions). The team has also ranked top-15 nationally in assist rate every year he’s been there, with strong point-guard play.

He’s also been key in recruiting (especially NC talent) and player development, five NBA Draft picks have come out of the program during his tenure, and he’s helped develop perimeter players and guards who buy into the defensive identity.

Barnes has continued to praise him highly in recent years, especially amid head-coaching buzz (Gainey has been a top candidate for jobs like NC State). In 2026 comments, Barnes said:

“If NC State knew what I knew, they would be begging him to be their next head coach. Because he’s ready not just for NC State, he’s ready to be the head coach of the University of Tennessee or any school in the country. He’s that good.”

Barnes has also called out Gainey’s “incredible feel for the game,” understanding of players, work ethic, and recruiting savvy in the NIL era.

Gainey himself has spoken about the defensive culture he helps instill. In 2023, he said:

“We’re really proud of our guys. They have completely bought into being the best defensive team in the country and competing on that end day in and day out… Regardless of what happens on the offensive end, they stay true to their identity.”

Barnes backing Gainey is a bit surprising since it’s been rumored that Barnes was grooming Gainey to take over the program. However, there is a ton of mutual respect, so this could just be Barnes wanting the best for his protege and understanding Gainey’s dream job might actually be NC State.

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