WASHINGTON, D.C. — NC State’s search for its next men’s basketball coach heated up Saturday as school officials met with top candidates.

The Wolfpack is seeking a replacement for Will Wade, who left the school for LSU earlier this week after just one season in Raleigh.

A plane registered to Seven Wolves LLC out of Pinebluff flew from Sanford to St. Louis, then to Chicago and then to Greenville Spartanburg Airport in South Carolina. As of 4:30 p.m., the Wolfpack had not made a job offer.

Saint Louis coach Josh Schertz confirmed to area reporters that he spoke with NC State on Saturday and said that no job offer was made. The plane was in St. Louis for about three hours.

NC State officials then went to Chicago to meet with Tennessee assistant Justin Gainey, a former Wolfpack player. Sixth-seeded Tennessee is in the NCAA Tournament regional final and plays No. 1 seed Michigan for a spot in the Final Four on Sunday. The plane was in Chicago for about three hours.

Furman is in Greenville. Head coach Bob Richey led the Paladins to the NCAA Tournament this season. Richey has been the head coach at Furman since 2017 and is 203-94. He has reached the NCAA Tournament twice — in 2003 when Furman advanced to the second round and this season when the Paladins lost to UConn in the first round.

“If NC State knew what I knew, they would be begging him to be their next head coach,” Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said, “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.”

Gainey, from North Carolina, played for the Wolfpack from 1996 through 2000, ranking second in school history in starts when his career was over. He has coached at various schools since 2009 and has been at Tennessee since 2021. The last three seasons he’s been the Volunteers associate head coach.

“I hope he gets the job,” Barnes said. “I don’t think there’s anybody in the country that loves NC State more than Justin Gainey. …. He has just incredible pride in his university.”

Barnes called him a terrific basketball coach and was the lead recruiter on 5-star freshman Nate Ament.

“Justin has an incredible feel for the game, really understands players,” Barnes said. “He works at it. Terrific recruiter. Understands the NIL era today.”

Former NC State football great Torry Holt and former basketball star Chris Corchiani have stumped for Gainey on social media.

Earlier this month, Schertz signed a new six-year deal worth more than $20 million to remain at Saint Louis.. He previously coached at Division II Lincoln Memorial in Tennessee and Indiana State. Saint Louis, a No. 9 seed, won its first game in the NCAA Tournament before losing to Michigan.

Wade signed a six-year contract worth more than $17 million last year.