Northeastern University Athletics

Since joining the Huskies in 1993 as the third coach in program history, Roy Coates has transformed the Northeastern swimming and diving program into one of the most dominant programs in the Northeast. In addition to a total of 21 winning seasons, including 11 straight since 2006-07, Coates has coached 174 conference champions, 136 all-conference selections and three All-Americans. Coates holds a 164-103 (.614) overall record with the women’s program and also coached the men’s program for the first three years of his tenure, amassing a 21-9 (.700) record.
 
In the time since Northeastern became a member of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) in 2005-06, Coates has adapted his team to tougher competition, shown by a steady increase in scoring at the CAA championship meet for seven straight seasons. During that timeframe, Coates and the Huskies effectively re-wrote the record book, setting and re-setting more than 50 program records. To date, Coates has accrued 41 All-CAA selections, six CAA champions and three Rookie of the Year honorees. In 12 seasons with the CAA, Coates has gone 92-54 (.630) including an undefeated dual meet record in 2007-08.
 
During Coates’ 12-year stint in America East, he accumulated five consecutive conference titles (2000-04), 119 conference champions, 83 all-conference selections, four Coach of the Year honors and seven Outstanding Diver of the Meet awards. Coates registered a 71-48 (.597) overall record in his first decade-plus with the Huskies and led the Red and Black to a sparkling 10-0 dual meet record through the 2001-02 season. In 2005 at the Huskies’ final America East Championship, NU’s Emily Rochefort was the recipient of the inaugural Dave Alexander Coaches’ Award, which recognizes the senior athlete who accumulated the most points at the championship over her four years.
 
Under the America East umbrella, diver Adela Gavozdea earned NCAA All-America status in the platform dive at both the 2003 and 2004 national championship meet. Coates also guided Cindy Peterson to the 1997 NCAA Championship where she too earned All-America honors.
 
While overseeing the men’s program, Coates led the team to consecutive America East titles in 1995 and 1996 and was also named AE Coach of the Year for those seasons. In three seasons, he fostered 49 conference champions and 12 all-conference selections.
 
In the classroom, Coates has produced three scholar-athlete award winners and his team has earned the College Swimming Coaches Association of America’s Scholar All-America honor for the last five consecutive semesters. Coates earned his masters degree in sports leadership from Northeastern in 2008 and holds a Level 4 Coach certification from the American Swim Coaches Association.