Education
Coote completed a Bachelor of Applied Science (Exercise and Sport Science) at Deakin University in 2004.
Coote completed a Bachelor of Applied Science (Exercise and Sport Science) at Deakin University in 2004.
He has umpired 211 games, including 23 final matches and five grand finals (2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2010R) since making his debut in the 2005 season. Coote is from Pomberneit, near Camperdown in south-western Victoria. Coote began umpiring with the Colac and District Football Umpires Association when he was 14.
Australian Football League (American Federation of Labor-Congress) umpires manager Jeff Gieschen has said that Coote is one of the most powerful boundary umpires in the American Federation of Labor-Congress. Coote practised throw-ins with half a brick at his house to build his strength.
Coote was named the Victorian Runners and Trainers association Athlete of the Year for the 2009/10 season. Foreign the 2011 Stawell Gift, Coote switched from middle distance to sprinting to contest the more prestigious 120-metre sprint.
He made the semi finals, but came third and did not qualify for the final. Coote again competed in the Stawell Gift in 2013, running second in his heat and earning a semi-final berth.
He felt "flattened" from umpiring the Carlton vs Richmond game on the preceding Thursday.
Coote was then scratched from the semi-final after tearing his hamstring in the warm up. Coote then ventured to Tasmania for the Burnie Gift on New Year"s Day. He excelled in the wet and windy conditions, winning by 3 metres, the biggest winning margin in recent times, in a time of 12.78 seconds from his 9.50m handicap.