What NC State football coach Dave Doeren said about Justin Gainey
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Doeren supports Gainey’s hire, citing a strong preference for hiring alumni.
- Gainey returns as head coach after playing career and early staff role.
- Gainey played point guard, was two-time captain, has two degrees from NC State.
Dave Doeren loves hiring former players.
That’s one of the reasons N.C. State’s football coach supports newly-hired men’s basketball coach Justin Gainey.
Doeren said he’s happy for Gainey and the university, calling his stance on hiring alumni “strong.”
“There’s a certain desire they have to win,” Doeren said on Thursday. “Anyone in this profession is going to be ultra competitive, but when it’s at your school, it’s just a little different.”
Gainey, a High Point native, played for the Wolfpack from 1996-2000 and was a two-time captain. He helped the team make the 1997 ACC Championship game and four NIT appearances. He ranks among the top point guards in school history and is widely known for playing the entirety of the 1997 ACC tournament run. Additionally, Gainey holds two degrees from N.C. State.
He also worked on Sidney Lowe’s staff early in his career. Gainey was a candidate for the job last season, but he was undoubtedly the man this time around.
“This is a homecoming,” Doeren said. “It’s really cool to have that feeling in that program, so I’m excited for Justin and his family to come home. I know what it’s going to mean to him, because I’ve witnessed it. … You can feel it. You can feel how important it is to them to get their job done the right way.”
At least 10 former players, Doeren estimated, have worked on his N.C. State football staff over the last 13 years.
Gavin Locklear (tight ends) and Isaiah Moore (inside linebackers) played for Doeren and were promoted to position coaches in recent years. Dantonio Burnette serves as the head of strength and conditioning. He played for the Pack from 1999-2002 and has served on staff during two different coaches and has been with Doeren since 2013.
When speaking about his own program, Doeren said having players want to return speaks volumes about the university, whether it’s to visit, train for the NFL or work.
“I’m thankful, first of all, that we have a place that they want to come back to,” Doeren said. “It tells you a little bit about their experience, but also that they chose to. … They want to be where they started, and that’s very meaningful to me.”
The same could be said about the men’s basketball program. During Gainey’s introductory press conference on Wednesday, which Doeren attended, the new coach spoke about his time as a young player and eventually earning a spot on the N.C. State roster.
He credited his time with the Wolfpack, both as a player and in his first collegiate role, for being instrumental in his development.
“Thank you so much for believing and giving me this amazing opportunity to live out my dream,” Gainey said to the administration. “This is a special place with a proud tradition, and I don’t take any of this lightly. I don’t take any of these responsibilities lightly. I know what comes with it. I was born here in North Carolina. Played here at N.C. State. I understand what being on Tobacco Road is all about.”
This story was originally published April 2, 2026 at 1:40 PM with the headline "What NC State football coach Dave Doeren said about Justin Gainey."
