'FNL' coach resigns from Permian after 2nd stint

The Associated Press, Tuesday, December 18, 2012, 2:55pm (PST)

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — The coach at the center of the "Friday Night Lights" book and film has left the Odessa 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 Odessa 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 best-seller, which chronicled how high school football binds the oil patch community.