Football

Teddy Gaines was named as Tusculum’s defensive coordinator in January 2024 where he begins his second stint with the Pioneers.

Gaines comes to Tusculum after serving on Coach Billy Taylor’s defensive staff at East Tennessee State University. He spent six years at ETSU where he coached the safeties.

He served at Tusculum briefly during the Spring of 2013 where he served as defensive backs coach and passing game coordinator before ETSU came calling for the Kingsport native.

Prior to Tusculum, he served as defensive backs coach and special teams' coordinator at Maryville College. The Scots' posted a 6-4 overall record, including 5-2 in league play to capture a share of the USA South Athletic Conference championship, the program's first league title since 1931. Gaines mentored a pair of All-Conference standouts in Jacob Berwind and Kane Crowell as Maryville boasted the top secondary in the USA South. The Scots led the league in pass efficiency defense (92.91), total defense (340.3 ypg), scoring defense (21.6 ppg), and pass defense (149.9 ypg).

From 2008-2011 he served as the defensive back coach and special teams coordinator at former South Atlantic Conference member Brevard College. His Tornado secondary hauled in 11 interceptions in 2011 pacing the SAC in total picks. On three occasions his defensive backs earned All-Conference honors including two-time honoree Michael Gist in 2009 and 2011.

In his second year on the Brevard staff, the 2010 Tornados posted a six-win improvement by posting a 7-4 record and recorded the program's best finish in the league.

Prior to Brevard, Gaines served as a defensive assistant at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 2008, where he served as the strong side linebacker coach.

He was a standout student-athlete at the University of Tennessee and was a top contributor in the Vols' secondary. A member of the 1998 National Championship Tennessee team, Teddy was drafted in the seventh round of the 2002 National Football League Draft. He enjoyed stints with the San Francisco 49ers and the Chicago Bears. He also gained playing experience with the NFL Europe's Rhein Fire in Germany and the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.

Gaines was a three-year starter and All-State defensive back at Dobyns-Bennett High School for prep coach Graham Clark. The two-time All-Big East selection was selected to play in the Tennessee-Kentucky all-star game. During his prep career, he recorded five interceptions, while blocking five field goals and five punts. As senior, he led the Indians to an 11-2 record and a semifinal berth in the state playoffs. He also shined at receiver, where he caught 42 passes for 888 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior.

He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in history at Tennessee in 2004 and began a career in education as he gained experiences in Knoxville, Cleveland and Kingsport as an educator and coach.