Bates athletic director Jason Fein announced Tuesday the appointment of Wesleyan defensive coordinator Matt Coyne as the 22nd head football coach in the program's 127-year history.
Coyne will be the fourth head coach in the past five playing seasons for Bates, which has been coached by Coyne (2022), Ed Argast (2021) and Malik Hall (2018-19) since the retirement of Mark Harriman (1998-2017).
Coyne recently wrapped up his fifth season as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Wesleyan, also coordinating the special teams last year as well. A 2012 Wesleyan graduate, Coyne played and coached for the Cardinals from 2010-2014, then returned to the coaching staff in 2017. He was the team's quarterback for two seasons and was voted captain for his senior campaign. Coyne was also awarded the Thomas W. Eck Jr. Memorial award in 2011 and 2012 for exemplifying the best in team spirit, sportsmanship, and devotion to the game of football.
"We are delighted to welcome Matt Coyne to the Bobcat family as Bates' head football coach," Fein said. "Matt's experience as a player and coordinator in the NESCAC, as well as his impressive football acumen, impressed everyone on the hiring committee, from students to coaches to alumni, and his ability to inspire and lead makes him the perfect person to take Bates football into the future."
"I am extremely grateful and honored to be selected as the next head football coach at Bates College," Coyne said. "It is an incredible opportunity to work with this group of exceptional student-athletes while representing one of the leading institutions in the country. I would like to thank president Clayton Spencer, vice president for campus life Joshua McIntosh, director of athletics Jason Fein, and the entire search committee for believing in me to lead the Bobcat football program. We are going to build a championship culture that our campus, community, and alumni will be proud to support."
The Cardinals achieved new heights as a program with Coyne on the coaching staff. In 2017, Wesleyan's defense ranked second in the NESCAC in points (16.1) and third in total yards allowed (305.1) per game. At linebacker, Brandon Morris led the conference in tackles with 95 and added four sacks en route to First Team All-Conference honors. Linebacker Shayne Kaminski was named Second Team All-NESCAC and finished his senior campaign with 62 tackles, 3.5 sacks, two interceptions, and one defensive touchdown.
After graduating from Wesleyan in 2012 with a degree in psychology, Coyne joined the staff as the wide receivers coach from 2012 to 2014. He was responsible for coaching and developing first team All-NESCAC receiver Jay Fabien and second team All-NESCAC receiver Josh Hurwitz. During his time at Wesleyan, Coyne was part of one of the most prolific offensive seasons in program history, in 2013, as the Cardinals captured their first-ever NESCAC championship and first outright Little Three title in 43 years. In 2015, Coyne completed a master's degree in social sciences.
Shortly after, Coyne joined the staff at Oberlin to coach the quarterbacks and handle the pass game coordinator duties. He was responsible for coaching and developing quarterbacks Lucas Poggiali (2015) and Zach Taylor (2016). Poggiali finished second in career passing yards and holds the single-game passing record of 506 yards during the 2015 season. Taylor, a first-year in 2016, moved into sixth place in program history for single-season passing yardage. In 2016, Coyne was promoted to offensive coordinator for the Yeomen.
Coyne, originally from Bristol, Conn., played for Bristol Central High School where he earned all-state and all-conference honors in both football and baseball. He was responsible for recruiting New Jersey, California, Ohio, and all national linebacker prospects at Wesleyan.
When the Bates opportunity opened, Coyne jumped at the chance to apply for the position. The interview process sealed the deal for him and Bates.
"I felt at home when I was meeting people for the first time, and I know from speaking with some alums and people affiliated with Bates, that's one of the main reasons they had such a great experience here," Coyne said. "That's something that sticks out to me. When you surround yourself with good people — it's the old saying — good things are going to happen. That's what we're planning to do here."
"We were impressed with his drive and preparation to be a head coach at the collegiate level," Fein said. "He took on a defensive coordinator role at Wesleyan in order to complement his experience on the offensive side of the ball. He strategically put himself in the right position to lead a collegiate program."
Coyne inherits a roster with 54 returnees from last year's team that went 3-6, with wins in each of the final two games.
On offense, second team All-NESCAC quarterback Brendan Costa has graduated, but rising sophomore Colton Bosselait set the Bates record for passing yards in one game in a dramatic win over Hamilton in the season finale.
Four of the top six receivers return from the 2021 season, including fifth-year senior Sean Bryant, who led the team with 50 catches for 627 yards and six touchdowns.
Fifth-year senior Christian Olivieri reeled in the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds against Hamilton and caught 15 passes for 353 yards and three touchdowns on the season.
Receivers Mohamed Diawara '23 and fifth-year senior Jackson Hayes battled injuries last year but still produced highlight reel moments for Bates. In just three games, Diawara caught nine passes for 125 yards and a touchdown. He is also an explosive returner for Bates on special teams. Hayes caught six passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns in five games.
Crucially, the Bobcats return an offensive line that held up very well all season, including four of the five who started against Hamilton in the season finale. Peter Simplicio '24, fifth-year senior captain Quinn Woods, fifth-year senior center Nick Florio and Cole De Magistris '24 are all back.
Defensively, First Team All-NESCAC linebacker Tony Hooks '23 returns along with 15 of the top 18 tacklers on the team from 2021. Hooks led the NESCAC in tackles last season with 92. Fifth-year senior linebacker Spencer Adams had a breakout campaign with 62 tackles and returns for the 2022 campaign as well.
Second team All-NESCAC cornerback Mohamed Coulibaly '23 is back after finishing fifth on the team in tackles (41) and third in solo tackles (29). Coulibaly also had an interception and four pass breakups.
"While we are eager for Matt to get to work, I'd like to acknowledge the hard work of our entire staff during the 2021 campaign, led by interim head coach Ed Argast," Fein said. "They set up this program for a very bright future."
Coyne emphasizes that the decision a recruit makes to come to Bates and play football is not just about the next four years, it's about the next 40 years.
"Our student-athletes will have a greater chance of succeeding in life because they were a part of the Bates College football program," Coyne said. "My fiancée and I are excited to immerse ourselves in the Bates campus and community.
"I am eager to get to work. It's a great day to be a Bobcat!"