Coach of American football named Gary Gaines. Gaines served as the head coach of the 1988 Permian High School football team, which was the subject of the 2004 film Friday Night Lights starring Billy Bob Thornton and the book Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream by H. G. Bissinger.
His four-decade coaching career included stops at eight Texas high schools and two colleges.
Gaines coached high school football for 30 seasons at various high schools in West Texas.
Following five years at Monahans High School, his career began in 1971 at Fort Stockton High School.
From the 1979–1980 season to the 1981–1982 season, he served as Head Coach John Wilkins’ assistant for three years.
Permian won the 1980 Texas 5A state championship with Gaines on the coaching staff.
Gary Gaines children: Meet his son Bradley Gaines
Gaines was married to Sharon Gaines, and the two had two children together Bradley Gaines was one of them, but the couple also had five grandkids.
Gary Gaines passed away on August 22, 2022, at the age of 73. He was born on May 4, 1949, in Crane, Texas, in the United States.
