Ben Terrence Coates

Background

Coates, Ben Terrence was born on August 16, 1969 in Greenwood, South Carolina, United States.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Sports Management, Livingstone College.

Career

Coates didn"t play football until his senior year of high school, and was a multi-sport player at Livingstone College located in Salisbury, North Carolina. As a gridiron player at Livingstone, he broke nearly all meaningful records at the school, but due to his split-sport performances, against weak competition, for a non-notable school, he received little notice outside of the CIAA. While a college student, he joined Phi Beta Sigma fraternity through the Upsilon Chapter at Livingstone College. Considered an out-of-nowhere prospect, Coates was picked in the fifth round of the 1991 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots.

In his second season he had twenty catches for 171 yards and three touchdowns.

His career changed with the 1993 arrival of quarterback Drew Bledsoe and legendary head coach Bill Parcells to the Patriots franchise. In 1994, his breakout year, he caught 96 passes, the most ever for a tight end to that point (the record was broken by Tony Gonzalez in 2004), for 1,174 yards receiving (The only time in his career he would gain 1,000 yards in a receiving season) and seven touchdowns.

He appeared in his first Pro Bowl and would appear in the next four as well. His efforts helped New England to a championship appearance in Super Bowl XXXI. His team lost the game 35-21, but he had a good performance in it, leading the Patriots in receiving with 6 catches for 66 yards and a touchdown.

From 1995 to 1998, he caught 84, 62, 66, and 67 passes, respectively, in those 4 seasons.

After the 1999 season, Coates was released by the Patriots, and afterwards played for the Baltimore Ravens, where he climbed the all-time receiving charts, winning Super Bowl XXXV in the process. When Coates was released by the Ravens in the following year, he decided to retire, having become the fourth all-time leading receiver at tight end in NFL history, behind Ozzie Newsome, former teammate Shannon Sharpe, and Kellen Winslow. Coates played in 158 games with 499 receptions for 5,555 yards and 50 touchdowns.

After retiring, Coates returned to Livingstone College, where he was head coach, and also coached in NFL Europe.

In 2004 he served an internship with the Dallas Cowboys as an assistant for the tight ends under head coach Bill Parcells. In March 2005, Coates was named the tight ends coach for the Cleveland Browns, replacing Rob Chudzinski, under head coach Romeo Crennel who was the former defensive coordinator of Coates" former team, the New England Patriots.

lieutenant was announced on July 7, 2008, that Coates would be inducted into the New England Patriots Hall of Fame. NFL statistics

Achievements

• Ben Terrence Coates has been listed as a noteworthy Professional football player by Marquis Who's Who.