Gary Gaines Hired By Permian...

[smitty]

Interesting that they would re-hire a coach that previously coached there.

[KFDM COOP]

Great Re Hire!!!!

[Lefty99]

Interesting indeed!  Trying to recapture the glory of it all.

[KFDM COOP]

Odessa Permian has reached back to its past to name Gary Gaines as football coach to replace Darren Allman.

Gaines, who has been Lubbock ISD athletic director since 2007, is expected to be approved by the Ector County school board Thursday.

Gaines was the head coach at Permian from 1986 to 1989, with a state title in his final season. The school district hasn't really been the same since Gaines' 1988 season was the subject of a best-selling New York Times' book and a later a movie called "Friday Night Lights."

Many in Odessa have tried to distance from what some perceived as an unbalanced, unhealthy focus on high school football characterized in "Friday Night Lights."

Permian's program has been overshadowed by the glare of the image for more than a decade. It wasn't until the last four years under former Permian player Darren Allman did Mojo seem to be re-emerging. Allman guided Permian to a 38-11 and three-consecutive playoff berths in the last four years.

But Allman has had an at times strained relationship with the Ector County ISD as far as staffing, infrastructure and the support many Class 5A football programs receive from their administrations.

Gaines is a proven winner who had an overall coaching record of 111-75-6 during his 17-year coaching career with stops at Petersburg, Monahans, Permian and San Angelo Central.

He left Permian to become an assistant coach at Texas Tech in 1990. He became head coach at Abilene Christian University for five seasons.

Gaines was back in the Ector County ISD office as athletic director in 2005 before leaving for Lubbock two years later.

The Permian search was focused on Flower Mound Marcus Bryan Erwin, who visited Odessa and the campus last Friday and Saturday.

But Erwin, who won two Class 4A state titles at La Marque, said Sunday he was withdrawing to stay at Marcus.

[Lefty99]

Something just hit me.  Allman is 39 yrs old....He graduated from Permian, right?...From my calculations he would have been 18 in 1988....the yr that "Friday Night Lights" was chronicled and written!  Talking about coming full circle, and must be a little strange in Odessa having the former coach come back, to fill the vacant seat left by one of his former players.....

[Lefty99]

Bet you liked that didn't you Coop!

[Mr. Buddy Garrity]

they just won the 2010 state title. i said it. quote me  :-)

[KFDM COOP]

Bet you liked that didn't you Coop!

8)

[Bobcatfan4life]

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[AJ25]

i knew that name sounded familiar

[jmspears3]

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That is not Billy Bob Thornton ;D ;D

[McLovin]

MOJO is back!

[badndn]

This is going to turn out bad for Permian...How often does this really work? (Think PAM! or LU Basketball!)

[NDNWarrior]

WOW!  Great news for Permian!  ;D

[smitty]

I find it also interesting that Gaines in 4 years at San Angelo Central (same region as Permian) had a 14-28 record.  And this is after the succes at Permian.  Just more to ponder. 

Interesting that they would re-hire a coach that previously coached there.

[stevieray]

I find it also interesting that Gaines in 4 years at San Angelo Central (same region as Permian) had a 14-28 record.  And this is after the succes at Permian.  Just more to ponder. 

Interesting that they would re-hire a coach that previously coached there.

Different caliber of players....Permian has and will always get "move in" student/athletes

[smitty]

Maybe so.  But this brings up the age old question again:  Is it the coach?  Is it the players?  Is it a combo of each? 

I find it also interesting that Gaines in 4 years at San Angelo Central (same region as Permian) had a 14-28 record.  And this is after the succes at Permian.  Just more to ponder. 

Interesting that they would re-hire a coach that previously coached there.

Different caliber of players....Permian has and will always get "move in" student/athletes

[NDNWarrior]

I believe it is a combination of both.  A coach is a motivator, but along with motivation and success, comes talent.  The vice-versa is true as well:  you could have a lot of talent, but unless the coach is a motivator and sets the bar for success, then the success is limited. 

[Guest ECBucFan]

No offense to anyone, but think about it:

How many state final appearances would Hooks have had if he coached at, say, Bridge City his whole career? What if Barbay had coached at, say, Warren? 

I say probably "none", for either one. 

[pngfan1]

I think its a good hire on Permians part.