Need help on coolant leak!!

My 2000 windstar has a coolant leak on the passenger side close to the water pump. My mechanic took a look and said it leaks where the intake manifold gasket is. What is likely to be the problem? Could a bad intake manifold gasket cause a coolant leak?

Yes, it can.
There are 2 possible gasket leaks that would leak near the water pump.
The first is the lower intake manifold gaskets, the other is the front cover (aka timing cover) gasket.
The lower intake manifold gaskets are a cheaper repair job than that front cover gasket.
There are pictures in the pictures that the link in my signature takes you to that show the lower intake manifold gasket job.