In 1997-98, while at Vanden High School, Gaines was named the Northern California Offensive Player of the Year.
In 2003, Gaines became defensive coordinator and special teams coach at James Lick High School in San Jose, California, where he inherited a program that had not won a game in three years.
After one season James Lick finished with a 7-3 record in the San Jose’s Blossom Valley Athletic League.
[4] Between 2004 and 2006 Gaines worked three years as a Division 1 strength and condition coach at both the University of Louisiana-Monroe and Louisiana State University, learning the craft of weight lifting under Olympic weight lifting coach Gayle Hatch.
Gaines has also worked with star athletes such as Reggie Bush, Chris Johnson, Brandon Roy and Bob Sanders.