LEWISTON, Maine -- Bates College Director of Athletics Jason Fein announced Tuesday the appointment of Wesleyan University defensive coordinator Matt Coyne as the 22nd head football coach in the program's 126-year history.
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."Â
"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 through Wesleyan's Graduate Liberal Studies program.
Shortly after, Coyne joined the staff at Oberlin College 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.Â
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."Â
"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 an experienced roster, with 54 returnees from last year's team that went 3-6, with wins in each of the final two games.Â
On offense, Second Team All-NESCAC quarterback Brendan Costa (Westport, Mass.) has graduated, but rising sophomore Colton Bosselait (Westminster, Mass.) set the Bates record for passing yards in one game in a dramatic win over Hamilton in the season finale.Â
Four of the top six receivers return from the 2021 season, including fifth-year senior Sean Bryant (Falmouth, Maine), who led the team with 50 catches for 627 yards and six touchdowns.Â
Fifth-year senior Christian Olivieri (Hull, Mass.) 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.Â
Receivers Mohamed Diawara '23 (Philadelphia, Pa.) and fifth-year senior Jackson Hayes (San Marino, Calif.) 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.Â
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 (Minot, Maine), fifth-year senior center Nick Florio (Beachwood, N.J.) and Cole De Magistris '24 (Emerson, N.J.) are all back.
Defensively, First Team All-NESCAC linebacker Tony Hooks '23 (New Rochelle, N.Y.) 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 (Bedford, N.H.) had a breakout campaign with 62 tackles and returns for the 2022 campaign as well.Â
Second team All-NESCAC cornerback Mohamed Coulibaly '23 (Philadelphia, Pa.) 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."Â
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.Â
"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!"
What they are saying about Matt Coyne
"Matt is a great coach that knows how to put his players in positions to be successful. He is meticulous in his game planning, he has a great work ethic, and he loves to compete. He is very passionate on the field and the players feed off of it. Players love to play for Matt. He is smart and loves the preparation football takes every week. He is one of the most loyal guys I know. Matt is excited to be all-in at Bates and will work hard for those student-athletes. They are getting one of the best coaches in the country. I truly mean that. He is a great football mind, and he has the work ethic and people skills it takes to get the job done." -- Dan Dicenzo, Head Coach, Wesleyan University.
"Matt played for me for two years at Wesleyan. Football is really important to Matt and he was a huge part of the turnaround. He worked relentlessly and put in all sorts of hours. Matt is only 31 years old but he already has extensive experience as both a defensive and an offensive coordinator. This is a very rare trait for any coach, let alone someone his age. He is a great recruiter and brings a ton of energy." -- Jack Siedlecki, Former Head Coach at Amherst and Yale and former Offensive Coordinator at Wesleyan.
"Matt is bright, tough, thoughtful, and intense. He has maturity beyond his years and an enthusiasm that serves him well. Beyond the X's and O's, the way he deals with players and the way he communicates with his players is something you don't often see in football coaches. He has the rare ability to be their friend but also earn their respect at the same time." -- John Papas, Founder of Elite Football Clinics and former coach at Harvard, Bentley and Tufts.
"Seeing his passion for the game and desire to compete at a high level amongst the best teams in conference really impressed me. I can't wait for camp to start this fall." -- Mohamed Diawara '23, Bates wide receiver and a member of the search committee.
"As a member of the selection committee, an alum, and a parent of a senior football player, so many things impressed me about Matt during the interview and selection process. His experience as a player and a coach in the NESCAC has allowed him to build a deep understanding of what it means to be a student-athlete and to compete at the Division III level. His love of the game of football, his appreciation and respect for the coaches he has played for and coached with, and his deep respect for the players he has coached and recruited, was apparent as soon as I met him. He is keenly aware of the rich history of the college and is focused on building a winning football program at Bates, together with the College, the Alumni, and most importantly, for his players. I look forward to watching a new era for Bates football unfold with Matt as our head coach. We are all behind you, Matt. Congratulations and Go Cats!" -- Steve Brackett '85, a Bates football parent and member of the search committee.
