Susquehanna University Athletics

Primary Recruiting Areas:

• Maryland - Baltimore, Baltimore City, Prince Georges, Charles, Howard, Cecil, Harford
• New Jersey - Split Bergen
• Washington D.C.

Gaines joined the Susquehanna University coaching staff in the spring of 2022, as he came to SU after serving as a graduate assistant at another SU, Shippensburg University for the 2021 season. Gaines will coach the defensive backs, while serving as special teams and defensive passing game coordinator. 

Prior to Shippensburg, Gaines was at American International College in 2020. For the 2019 season, Gaines was an assistant coach at his alma mater, Salisbury University. Gaines coached the defensive backs and was a special teams quality control coach. His secondary featured three All-New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) performers, including a D3Football.com First Team All-American. The Sea Gulls were ranked among the Top 30 total defenses in the nation, including ninth in rushing defense.
 
At Salisbury, Gaines was integral to the team’s video operations and helped create practice plans for individual position groups. During practice, Gaines helped conduct scout team offense and special teams. As a recruiter, Gaines assisted staff in Baltimore County and Baltimore City.  
 
Gaines’ coaching career began with a three-month stint at Alvernia College, where he coached the defensive backs and served as a strength coach. He supervised lifting and conditioning sessions for the football team and helped with practice plans.
 
As a collegian, Gaines totaled 190 tackles (104 solo) in the secondary for the Sea Gulls to go along with seven interceptions and 25 pass breakups. A two-year captain, Gaines was named the 2015 NJAC Defensive Rookie of the Year and the 2015 East Coast Athletic Conference (ECAC) Rookie of the Year after recording a career-high 62 tackles and seven pass breakups.
 
His banner senior season included three interceptions and more than 10 pass defenses, and it resulted in recognition on the All-NJAC First Team, All-East Region Third Team and D3Football.com All-America Honorable Mention squad. He started in the 2018 FCS National Bowl.
 
After his playing career, Gaines interned with the Salisbury University Sport Performance staff. He was a strength & conditioning intern who helped develop speed, strength and agility programs for the Sea Gull athletic teams while also supervising lifts and conditioning sessions.
 
A native of Baltimore, Gaines earned his undergraduate degree in interdisciplinary studies from Salisbury in 2018. He is pursuing his master’s degree in Organizational Development & Leadership at Shippensburg, concentrating in social leadership.