In 1989, Gaines led the undefeated Panthers to a state championship. Overall, he had a record of 46 wins, 7 losses and 1 loss as a head coach at Permian. However, he soon retired and joined Texas Tech University as his assistant coach.
“He loved coaching, he loved his kids,” his wife, Gaines, said in a phone interview, describing his circumnavigation. “He got his first job when we got out of college. But then everyone followed him.”
After four seasons at Texas Tech, he returned to high school coaching in Abilene and San Angelo before being appointed head coach at Abilene Christian University. Following a record of under 21-30, he resigned and spent two years as athletic director for the Ector school district, including Odessa, and another his two years as athletic director for the Lubbock school district.
In 2009, he returned to Permian as head coach, but his run was not as successful as his first. Over four seasons, the Panthers had a 23-21 record, including one playoff win. Gaines resigned from what would be his last coaching job in 2012.
“We will pass it on to someone else and hopefully they will make more money than we do,” Gaines told the Associated Press. “We came here to try and make the playoffs and we didn’t make it.”
In 2017, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Nicole Strader. his son, Bradley; his sisters, Dana Howland and Tamra Readhead; and five grandchildren.