[1] He served as the head football coach at Tennessee Agricultural & Industrial State College—now known as Tennessee State University—in 1927, Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical & Normal College—now known as University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff–from 1928 to 1929, and at Langston University from 1930 to 1957.

He was also the head basketball coach at Langston from 1930 to 1965, tallying a mark of 571–281.

[2] As the fourth head coach of the football, he led the squad to a record of 1–2–3 in 1927.

[2] Gayles was the head football coach at Arkansas Agricultural, Mechanical & Normal College—now known as the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff—for two seasons, from 1928 to 1929, compiling a record of 8–9–3.

His teams were National Negro champions twice in both basketball and football.