VMI Athletics

Ingram announces Defensive Staff - 1/21/2026

Gaines comes to VMI after spending the last three seasons at Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, where he coached defensive backs and served as Special Teams Coordinator for one of the nation's top prep programs. Gaines began his coaching career at the Naval Academy Preparatory School in 2015 as linebackers coach and special teams coordinator before serving as a graduate assistant at Miami (Ohio) and later at the University of Cincinnati during one of the most successful stretches in program history. Specializing in defensive back play, Gaines helped Cincinnati to a 13-0 start, the program's first College Football Playoff appearance, and the nation's top-ranked pass defense in 2021. At Cincinnati, he coached future NFL draft picks Coby Bryant (Seahawks/Bears), the 2021 Jim Thorpe Award winner, and Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner (Jets/Colts), a First-Team All-American and the fourth overall pick in the NFL Draft.
 
A Smyrna, Tennessee, native and United States Naval Academy graduate, Gaines made 46 consecutive starts at defensive back for the Midshipmen, earned multiple First Team All-Conference honors, and was elected team captain. Following his playing career, he spent time with the Tennessee Titans during mini camp before honorably serving six years on active duty as a commissioned Navy officer. His personal decorations include the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation. Gaines is a Pat Tillman Scholar and holds graduate degrees from Vanderbilt University (MBA), the University of Louisville (Sport Administration), the University of Cincinnati (Education), and Troy University (Human Resource Management).