Coach depicted in “Friday Night Lights” resigns from Permian after 2nd stint leading Panthers

LUBBOCK, Texas – The coach at the centre of the “Friday Night Lights” book and film has left the Odesa Permian sideline for the last time.

Gary Gaines said Tuesday he has resigned from the West Texas football program he helped make famous. The 63-year-old said he doubts he’ll coach again but doesn’t know yet what’s next.

He leaves with a 69-28-1 record in eight years as Permian’s head coach. The Panthers went 23-21 in Gaines’ second stint in Odesa the past four seasons.

In 1989 he lead Permian to a state 5A championship, just a year after H.G. “Buzz” Bissinger spent a year in town researching his bestseller, which chronicled how high school football binds the oil patch community.

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