January 5, 2022
Former East Central football coach Willie "Tenny" Coats passed away in December and will be remembered among Warrior fans as one of the best to don the black and gold. Coats coached the Warrior football team for nine seasons, first as an assistant coach from 1970 to 1976 before returning to Decatur as head coach in 1995. He posted a 19-11 record over three seasons as head coach, including a 10-1 season that saw a Huddle House Golden Isles Classic victory over Middle Georgia to close out the 1996 season.
Coats had a playing career at the University of Southern Mississippi where he played both quarterback and defensive back, before signing a professional baseball contract with the Chicago Cubs upon graduation in 1960. After one season of minor league ball, he played two seasons of minor league professional football with the Mobile Buccaneers.
His coaching career took him to Hattiesburg, Quitman, Decatur, Lumberton, Seminary, Clara, and Choctaw at the high school ranks and to Pearl River Community College and Delta State, along with East Central, at the collegiate level.
Coats is a member of the University of Southern Mississippi Athletic Hall of Fame, the Mississippi Association of Coaches Hall of Fame, and the East Central Community College Athletic Hall of Fame. He also received numerous Coach of the Year awards throughout his tenure.
Coach Coats is survived by his wife of 64 years, the former Lula Richardson of Stonewall, MS. Together they have four children: Patti Coats Ezell, Tim (Shelley) Coats, Stan (Sharon) Coats, and Kristi Coats. They also have seven grandchildren: Alan Coats, Carianne White, Brandon (Victoria) Ezell, Carmen (Brad) Ezell Hillman, Patrick (Barbara) Ezell, Conner Coats, Courtlynn Coats, and Caroline Coats. They also have seven great-grandchildren: Ann-Hadli Ezell, Olivia Ezell, Dakota Ezell, Harper Hillman, Haze Hillman, Brees Ezell, and Loden Ezell. He also leaves behind his brothers, Dennis Coats, Richard (Phyllis) Coats, Douglas (Sue) Coats, and Larry Mosley, and a sister, Laverne Holloman.
