Jerry Gaines

Dr. Jerry Gaines, a life-long educator, began his career in 1972 at Western Branch High School in Chesapeake, Virginia where he taught and coached for twenty-one years. He spent the next fifteen years as a high school assistant principal. He completed the last three years of his career as a Central Office Supervisor.

Notable achievements include his selection as Teacher of the Year for the Chesapeake School System, Coach of the Year by the Portsmouth Sports Club, induction into the Hampton Roads African American Sports Hall of Fame, and induction into the Hall of Legends by the Chesapeake Sports Club. Dr. Gaines was the first Black Athlete to earn a full athletic scholarship to Virginia Tech. He is also the first Black Athlete to be inducted into the school’s Sports Hall of Fame. In 2023, VA Tech honored him by dedicating the VT Director of Track and Field Office to Dr. Gaines.

While working as an educator, Dr. Gaines used his love of fishing to reach out and mentor young people he came to know and love. Many of the relationships that developed have lasted more than 50 years.

After retiring as an educator, Dr. Gaines traveled the country sharing a very profound message that he claims, “a million kids taught HIM.”