Ben Terrence Coates, Jr. was born in 1969 in Greenwood, SC and attended Greenwood High School. He did not play football until his senior year at Greenwood and went on to be a multi-sport athlete at Livingstone College. He finished his college career with 103 receptions for 1,268 yards and 18 touchdowns. In 2018, he was inducted into the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Hall of Fame.

Coates was picked in the fifth round of the 1991 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. He played a total of 10 seasons in the NFL, nine with the patriots and his last season with the Ravens. In his time in the NFL, he had 499 receptions, 5,555 receiving yards, and 50 touchdowns. He also made an appearance in Super Bowl XXXI with the Patriots. After being released by the Patriots, Coates signed with the Ravens in 2000 and was part of the team that won Super Bowl XXXV. Coates was named to the second NFL 1990s All-Decade Team in 2000 and inducted to the New England Patriots Hall of Fame in 2008.

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. In 2005, Coates was named the tight ends coach for the Cleveland Browns.

Picture courtesy of the New England Patriots