Gary Gaines was the legendary Texas high school football coach who was the subject of the book and movie “Friday Night Lights.”
- Died: Monday, August 22, 2022. (Who else died on August 22?)
- Details of death: Died from Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 73.
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West Texas Coaching Legend
Gary Gaines coached various high school football teams in West Texas for 30 seasons. He is best known for his time as the head coach at Permian High School in Odessa, Texas. His 1988 team at the school was the subject of the book “Friday Night Lights,” written by Buzz Bissinger. The book portrayed Gaines as a caring coach who was caught up in the intense must win culture of Texas high school football. In the movie adaptation, he was played by actor Billy Bob Thornton. In 1989, Gaines led Permian to a perfect undefeated season and a win in the State Championship. He left to become an assistant coach at Texas Tech and finished his career coaching at Permian, retiring after the 2012 season.
Notable Quote
“It was just a great opportunity to come back here. I really wasn’t looking necessarily to leave. It just worked out that way.” – He told ESPN in 2009 when he came back to coach Permian
Tributes to Gary Gaines
Full Obituary: ESPN
