Coach Bainter played Quarterback/Free Safety for Evergreen High School in Seattle. His high school honors include being named 1st Team All-NPSL Quarterback/Defensive Back, team Captain and Most Valuable Player. Tom went on to play college football at Western Washington University as a Free Safety/Defensive Back where he was a 4-year letter winner. 

2024 marks the 25th season for Coach Bainter as Head Coach at Bothell High, and his 36th year of coaching. He teaches health at BHS. He begins the season with an overall record at Bothell High School of 204 wins and 69 losses. During his tenure he has led the team to seven KINGCO Championships in ’02, ’03, ’06, ’07, ‘09, '14, and '19, six Crown Division Championships in ’08, ’09, '10, '14, '19, and '21 and a Crest Division Championship in 2012 and 2013. Bothell Football has qualified for the State playoff rounds 20 of 24 seasons with Coach Bainter at the helm, including thirteen State Quarterfinal, four State Semi-final and four State Title game appearances.  In 2014, Coach Bainter led his staff and team to the 4A State Title, compiling a 14-0 record and a top 25 National ranking.

Tom and Kristina Bainter have been married for 30 years and have two sons, Owen (age 25) paraeducator, football and track coach at Bothell HS, and Erik (age 22) a coach at BHS. When not coaching or teaching, Tom enjoys playing golf, boating, traveling, reading and spending time with his family.