NC State's AD Just Introduced the New Basketball Coach by Calling Him the Wrong Name. Twice.

Well, that's one way to kick off your first day. NC State athletic director Boo Corrigan welcomed the school's new men's basketball coach Justin Gainey to the podium on Wednesday, and immediately... forgot his name. Not once, but twice, Corrigan called Gainey "Jason" in rapid succession during the introductory news conference.

"As a former point guard, Jason knows what it takes to manage a team," Corrigan said. "As a former captain, he knows what it takes to be a strong leader and what we need to do to take the next step. And as a two-time NC State graduate, he understands the love we all have for this university. To quote [football coach Dave Doeren], Jason's blood is in the bricks."

How Did This Happen?

Look, the explanation is actually pretty straightforward. Corrigan had just introduced Gainey's family before taking the microphone, and his son happens to be named Jason. The name apparently just stuck in Corrigan's head and took over at the worst possible moment. Hey, it happens. Still awkward though.

Who Is Justin Gainey, Really?

So who's the guy who just got mislabeled at his own introductory press conference? Gainey is a former NC State player and point guard who played for the Wolfpack from 1996 to 2000. He's got that deep connection to the program: a two-time NC State graduate, former captain, and he actually spent time working in the school's administration before diving into coaching full time.

His coaching resume is legit. He's had stops at Arizona and Marquette, and most recently served as the associate head coach at Tennessee under Rick Barnes. During his four seasons with the Volunteers, Tennessee made three straight Elite Eight appearances. That's serious tournament experience, even if the Vols still haven't made a Final Four in program history. They just lost to Michigan on Sunday.

Replacing the Revolving Door

Gainey takes over after the program went through absolute chaos. Will Wade lasted exactly one season at NC State before bolting back to LSU in March, just weeks after the Wolfpack hired him from McNeese to replace Kevin Keatts. Gainey's got a lot of work to do, but at least everyone will learn to call him by his actual first name.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.