Columbia High School is proud to announce the hire of Sammie Coates as the new head football coach. The Huntsville City Board of Education approved the hire during its meeting on January 21, 2025.
Coates brings a wealth of experience from both his playing career and coaching tenure. An Alabama native, Coates made his mark on the national stage as a standout wide receiver at Auburn University from 2011 to 2014. During his collegiate career, he helped lead the Tigers to the 2013 SEC Championship and an appearance in the 2014 BCS National Championship game. Coates earned All-SEC honors and concluded his Auburn career ranked in the top 10 for receiving yards.
Following his success at Auburn, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected Coates in the third round of the 2015 NFL Draft. His professional playing career included time with the Cleveland Browns, Houston Texans, and Kansas City Chiefs, as well as stints in the XFL and CFL.
"Sammie Coates is a man of character, integrity, and he is committed to making a difference in the lives of our student athletes," said Dr. Thomas Jones, Principal of Columbia High. "We are proud to welcome him to Columbia."
After retiring from professional football, Coates transitioned into coaching, where he most recently served as the Wide Receiver/Returners Coach and Community Service Coordinator at The University of Virginia's College at Wise. Prior to that, Coates held coaching roles at Ohio Northern University and Jensen Beach High School, where he worked with wide receivers, defensive backs, and special teams.
"My goal is to not only guide these young men to be just great football players, but to be great people," Coates said.
Coates will officially start as head coach on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025.
