Doug Coate began his athletic career at Findlay as a baseball third baseman and football quarterback. He earned four baseball letters, and was a member of the 1979 National Association of Intercollegiate (NAIA) Division II national championship football team. As a quarterback, Coate was 18-2 and led the Oilers to a Hoosier-Buckeye Conference title in 1982. Elected a team captain while a senior, he was named NAIA All-District 22 in 1981 and ’82. Coate then received the Founders’ Son Award in 1983.
Coate Continued to contribute to both programs, serving as an assistant football coach for 14 seasons and head coach for one. When the Oilers claimed the NAIA title in 1997, Coate had participated in all four championships, three while a coach. He also has been on the sideline for three other national title games, plus one at Findlay and one at The University of Saint Francis, Indiana. Coate served as head baseball coach at Findlay from 1986 to ’97, posting a record of 198-182. In 1996, Findlay finished 25-11, including a berth in the NAIA playoffs. The broad experience of this player and coach is reflected in his belief that, “Sports and athletics bring together more people from diverse backgrounds than any other activity in our country.”
Currently serving as the recruiting coordinator and assistant football coach at St. Francis, Coate and his wife, Julie, reside in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. They have two adult children, Kylene and Seth.
