Gary Gaines

Gary Gaines (born May 4, 1949) is a former American football coach. Gaines was the head coach of the 1988 Permian High School football team, which was the focus of the H. G. Bissinger book Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team and a Dream and the 2004 motion picture Friday Night Lights starring Billy Bob Thornton. Gaines went on to work as an assistant at Texas Tech University recruiting and coaching linebackers such as former National Football League (NFL) player Zach Thomas.

Gaines was the 17th head football coach at Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas and he held that position for five seasons, from 2000 until 2004. Gaines' coaching record at Abilene Christian was 21–30. The Wildcats won the Lone Star Conference South Division championship in 2002.

In 2005, Gaines moved on to serve as the athletic director for Ector County Independent School District, the same district of which Permian High School is a part. In 2007, he took the position of athletic director for the Lubbock Independent School District.

On March 9, 2009, Permian announced that Gaines would return as head coach of Permian after Darren Allman left for Austin Westlake. The Panthers were 8–4 in the 2009 season under Gaines. After three additional seasons with Permian, Gaines announced his retirement from coaching football on December 18, 2012.

Gaines is also a public speaker. Speaking to high schools and colleges across the country, Gaines gives insight on teamwork, leadership, winning and success on and off the field.