Pack in the Pros

Chris Coleman’s Journey From Player to Coach

Published

9 years ago

June 18, 2015

At one point three of the best receivers in NC State history played on the same team together in Torry Holt, Chris Coleman, and Koren Robinson. All three of them rank in the Top-10 in numerous receiving records in the NC State record books. Chris Coleman (1995-99) played three seasons lining up on the other side of the field from Torry Holt, who is arguably the greatest wide receiver in NC State history. Because of who was on the other side of the field, Coleman’s greatness could go unnoticed at times, but his greatness is not unknown to the NC State record books. Coleman ranks 10th in career receptions (122), 9th in receiving yards (1,909), and his 876 receiving yards in 1998 rank 8th for a single season.

Coleman has been a professional football player, a real estate broker, and a college football coach since his NC State days. We caught up with Chris recently, and I think it would just be easier to let him tell us his own personal journey.

“I went undrafted in the 2000 draft, but was fortunate enough to make it on the team with the Tennessee Titans. I played on special teams and as a reserve wide receiver. Between those two seasons I played NFL Europe,” Coleman said. “After that second season I bounced around from Arena Football and the CFL. I would’ve liked a longer career. I thought I was good enough to play longer. One thing led to another, and you don’t always control all the variables. I’m definitely grateful to have had the opportunities I have had.”

After his professional football career came to an end in 2003, Coleman worked as a real estate broker for six years. During that time he earned his Masters in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. But Chris Coleman wasn’t done with football yet.

He has spent the past 6 seasons coaching college football. Coleman’s first three years coaching were with Lenoir-Rhyne University coaching the wider receivers, punt returners and kick returners, helping the Bears win two consecutive South Atlantic Conference championships his last two seasons there. The past three seasons, Coleman has served as the wide receivers coach at Southern University, helping guide them to back-to-back division titles and two SWAC championship appearances.

Coleman said that being a NC State football player helped prepare him for all of his professional endeavors since leaving the Wolfpack.

“I think being a college football player prepares you for what you’re about to face in life. The things you to do manage your studies, your classes, your practice, your weight lifting,” Coleman said. “Juggling all the things that a college football player does prepares you for what your going to be doing in life. In whatever profession you are in, you have things that you are expected to accomplish each day.”

Over the past two weeks Coleman has been a part of an internship with the St. Louis Rams, where he has been reunited with his former Tennessee Titans head coach Jeff Fisher.

“I’m around some great coaches. Jeff Fisher is the coach there, and he was my coach when I was with the Titans,” said Coleman. “I’ve been observing how they do things, learning their system, studying their playbook, and I am working with the wide receivers, giving them pointers here and there.”

When he looks back at his time at NC State, the most valuable thing about his time there was the people that he was surrounded by.

“I was surrounded by amazing players and amazing people. Playing with the likes of Torry Holt & Koren Robinson, and going against a great secondary with the likes of Lloyd Harrison, Jason Perry, Tony Scott, and Adrian Wilson,” said Coleman. “I am honored to have had the opportunity to grow up and develop with those guys. It’s great to be a part of a great fold of receivers over the history of NC State. Dating back to Nas Worthen and Haywood Jefferies, and Eddie Goines right before I arrived. Torry Holt started his era when I came in, and Koren Robinson and Jerricho Cotchery were younger than me. Just a lot of great receivers over time. I am very proud.”

Coleman’s Saturday’s have obviously been tied up over the past six years coaching college football, so he hasn’t been able to catch many Wolfpack games, but he said that he still checks the box score and watches the highlights of every game.

“My blood still runs Wolfpack RED.” Coleman said.