Where things stand now, expect for Mike White to be back leading the Georgia Bulldogs for year five in 2026-27. While he was a fringe candidate to be the next head coach at North Carolina State, he is almost certainly sticking around in the SEC like Vanderbilt Commodores head coach Mark Byington now is after inking a new deal. Josh Brooks will not have to extend White, but he was in consideration.
With Saint Louis' Josh Schertz no longer a candidate, this likely means it will be Justin Gainey's job.
Source: Saint Louis' Josh Schertz is no longer a candidate for the head coaching vacancy at NC State.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) March 29, 2026
Gainey and Schertz emerged as the two front-runners for this position vacated by the absolutely delightful Will Wade after his one Lane Kiffin-esque season in Raleigh. Baton Rouge was calling his name again, so now he will be colleagues with Kiffin and Kim Mulkey at LSU. What a time to be alive! White did have a rapport with NC State athletic director Boo Corrigan, but that all was for naught here.
What wil Gainey taking over at North Carolina State mean for White and Georgia moving forward?
Mike White not expected to get North Carolina State head-coaching gig
For White and the Georgia program, it is back to the base of the mountain. Under White, Georgia has done remarkable things, given the school's lackluster history as a basketball program. Winning 20 games a season and making the NCAA Tournament are now common, and expected, occurrences for the program. Georgia fans are hoping that something finally clicks with this team to win in the tourney.
Gainey played at North Carolina State, so it would make all the sense in the world for him to take this job once Tennessee's season comes to an end here soon. Clearly, Corrigan wanted to make a hire that would land well in the wake of the disastrous Wade exodus to LSU. Gainey has never been a major head coach before. He is familiar, and that is what North Carolina State wants to do about it.
Truth be told, the Wolfpack probably wanted Schertz as their next head coach. Either he said no, the interview did not go well, or something else happened. The point is Corrigan wanted to act swiftly to rectify the Wade situation. He purposely interviewed Schertz and then Gainey in Chicago ahead of Tennessee's Elite Eight matchup with Michigan. At this time, all signs point to it being Gainey's team.
So with White back for another season, it will be up to him and his UGA players to take the next step.