Shane Gaines joined the Merrimack football staff in February of 2024 to coach the Corners/Rovers.
Gaines comes to the Mack from Edinboro University (DII-PSAC conference) where he coached the defensive backs, cornerbacks & safeties for the 2023 season. During his time at Edinboro, he mentored 2nd Team All-PSAC WEST Safety Toby Cline. Before his time at Edinboro University, Gaines served as the Defensive Backs coach/Defensive Pass Game Coordinator/Co-Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Recruiting Coordinator at Susquehanna University from 2022 Spring to 2023 Spring.
During his time at Susquehanna University (DIII-LANDMARK Conference), he mentored three all conference DB’s. 1st Team All-Centennial Safety Keith Greene III, 2nd Team All-Centennial Cornerbacks, Edwin Maxwell and David Gilchrist. The secondary totaled 39 passes defended (29 PBUs and 10 INTs). As Gaines coached the DBs, Susquehanna had one if it’s best seasons as a program. SU had a 10-1 record while also winning the Centennial Conference Championship and getting a birth in the DIII National Playoffs for the first in over a decade. Defensively, Susquehanna was Top 2 in Scoring defense (14.0 ppg), Total Defense (270.3 ypg), Pass Defensive Completion Percentage (50.6%), 3rd Down Defense (29.2%), and Red Zone Defense (22/31).
Prior to Susquehanna, Gaines served as a graduate assistant/Defensive Backs Coach/Co-Recruiting coordinator at Shippensburg University (DII-PSAC) in 2021. While working with the DB’s and recruiting at SU, Gaines had coordinating responsibilities on the special teams side of the ball as well. During Gaines tenure at Shippensburg, the program had one of the best seasons in school history with going from 4-7 in 2019 to having a 9-2 record in 2021. While also having team success, Gaines mentored 2nd Team ALL-PSAC EAST Defensive Back, Trey Paul. Under Gaines, Paul ranked top 10 in the country for interceptions with 5. He finished the season with 13 total passes defended (9 PBU’s and 4 INTs). As a secondary, Gaines’s unit had 39 total passes defended, 26 PBU’s and 10 INTs. Shippensburg defense had one of its best statistical years ever with being ranked #1 in the PSAC/#11 in the nation in 3rd Down Defense at 28.8%. They also were #4 in the PSAC in scoring defense (20.0 ppg) which was #2 in the PSAC-East. The defense was also ranked #5 in total defense in the PSAC, #2 in the PSAC-East (297.5 ypg).
Before landing the GA position with Shippensburg, Gaines started his Master’s at American International College in 2020 where he served as a GA and the sport performance coordinator. The program did not have a season due to Covid-19.
For the 2019 season, Gaines was an assistant coach at his alma mater, Salisbury University (DIII-NJAC). 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.
Gaines’ coaching career began with a three-month stint at Alvernia University, where he coached the defensive backs and served as the head strength/sport performance coach.
As a recruiter, Gaines has recruited the DMV, Northern New Jersey, Columbus (OH), Youngstown (OH), Cleveland (OH), and has had experience with the transfer portal.
As a collegian, Gaines was a defensive back. During his time at Salisbury University, he started 42 of the 43 games he played. Statistically, Gaines totaled 190 tackles (104 solo) to go along with seven interceptions and 32 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 squad. He started in the 2018 FCS National Bowl as well, where he was 1 of 3 DIII players on the roster. In 2020, Gaines was voted to the Salisbury University Football All-Decade Team.
A native of Baltimore, MD, Gaines earned his undergraduate degree in interdisciplinary studies from Salisbury in 2018 and his Master’s Degree in Developmental Leadership from Shippensburg University in 2022.
