Bates College Men's Football

Matt Coyne returns for his fourth year at the helm of the Bates football program. He is the 22nd head coach in the program's 150-year history.  In 2024, the Bobcats made history by defeating eventual NESCAC champion Wesleyan in Middletown for the first time since 1981. They also knocked off Middlebury for the first time since 1988. Four Bobcats earned All-NESCAC honors, the most in one season for Bates football since 2012. In his debut season of 2022, Coyne led the Bobcats to three wins and a pair of players earned All-NESCAC honors. The Bobcats defeated Amherst for the first time since 1999 and Bates' offense tied the program record for passing touchdowns in one season, with 19.  Coyne spent five seasons as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Wesleyan, and coordinated the special teams in 2021 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. Coyne was hired by Bates in February of 2022. "We are delighted to welcome Matt Coyne to the Bobcat family as Bates’ head football coach," Director of Athletics Jason 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 of 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." Wesleyan 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, 2 interceptions, and one defensive touchdown. After graduating from Wesleyan in 2012, Coyne joined the staff as the wide receivers coach from 2012-2014. 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 offenses 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 his Master’s in Social Sciences from Wesleyan's GLSP 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 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." 

Bates football head coach Matt Coyne announced the addition of Alec Brown to his staff in 2024. In 2025, Brown will serve as the special teams coordinator and coach the running backs and tight ends. "I am excited about the addition of Alec Brown to the Bates football coaching staff," said Coyne. "Coach Brown brings organization, dedication, and a strong work ethic that will strengthen our tight ends and ignite our special teams. I am eager to see his impact on the student-athletes and program as a whole." Brown joins the garnet and white after serving on the staff of Valley City State University (N.D.) in various capacities since 2021. Coach Brown served as a graduate assistant/tight ends coach for the Vikings from 2021 to 2023 before his tenure as linebackers coach/special teams coordinator for the program in 2023-24. Prior to his time at Valley City State, Brown served as a student assistant/defensive backs coach at his alma mater of Husson University in 2020-21. Hailing from nearby Winthrop, Maine, Brown kicked off his coaching career as an assistant running backs/linebackers coach at Winthrop High School from 2017-20. Coach Brown earned his bachelor's degree in sports management from Husson while earning a master's degree in business education from Valley City State. "I'd like to thank Coach Coyne for the opportunity to work at such a prestigious school and football program," said Brown. "I was born and raised about 20 minutes from Bates, so this is home and means a lot to me. I am extremely excited to join this staff and group of student-athletes. I have heard a ton about how they are a great group of men, I can't wait to meet the group and get to work." 

Bates football head coach Matt Coyne announced the addition of Kyle Suta as defensive backs coach in 2024. In 2026, Suta was also named the program's recruiting coordinator. "I am excited to welcome Kyle to our team," said Coyne. "Kyle comes highly recommended from his previous coaching stops. He possesses a high football IQ, is extremely detail-oriented, and cares about his student-athletes. He will add value to our defensive backs from day one." A fixture in the northeast his entire coaching career, Coach Suta most recently served as cornerbacks coach and running backs coach at Marist College. Prior to that experience, Kyle completed stints at Wagner College (running backs), Brown University (Defensive Quality Control Coach), and Monmouth University (Offensive Quality Control/Asst. Tight Ends Coach). Suta, who hails from Red Bank, N.J., earned a Bachelor of Science in communications from Monmouth. "I want to thank Coach Coyne for providing me the opportunity to work at such a prestigious institution," said Suta. "I looking forward to working with Bates' high-academic student-athletes and contributing to a great coaching staff." 

Tom Radulski joined the Bates College football coaching staff as defensive line coach in 2020. Coach Radulski brings significant NESCAC experience to the Bobcats, having previously served as the defensive coordinator at Hamilton (1984), Colby (1985), and Bowdoin (2000-2010).  Before joining the Bates coaching staff, Radulski was the head football coach at Hebron Academy (2017-19). A 1979 graduate of the University of New Hampshire, Radulski coached at his alma mater during the 1982 and 1983 seasons. He also served on the coaching staffs of Allegheny College (1980-81, 1986-88) and Holy Cross (2011-17). He was the first head coach in the history of the UMass-Lowell football program (1993-95) while also having served as head coach at Sacred Heart University (1993-95).

Watrous was promoted to offensive coordinator in April of 2025. The 2025 season will be his fourth on the Bates football coaching staff. He spent the previous three seasons coaching the offensive line. In 2024, the Bates offensive line was twice named to the D3football.com Team of the Week and Watrous coached second team All-NESCAC selection Peter Simplicio, who was the first Bates offensive lineman to earn All-NESCAC honors since 2013. In 2022, his offensive line helped block for Bates quarterback Colton Bosselait '25, who tallied 1,817 passing yards and 21 total touchdowns, both of which are the most in Bates single-season history. Bosselait's 17 passing touchdowns tied the program record. Coach Watrous came to Bates after one season at Middlebury where he coached the running backs and tight ends. He came to the Panther squad after serving as the running backs coach at NESCAC rival Amherst since 2017.   During his time with the Mammoths, Watrous helped guide the team to back-to-back NESCAC runner-up finishes (2017 and 2018). In 2018, Amherst captured the Little Three Title, a tradition with Wesleyan and Williams dating back to 1910. Watrous coach the running backs and defensive line throughout his time with the Mammoths, coaching several All-NESCAC selections.    Prior to his time at Amherst, Watrous was a part of the athletic administration staff at UMass-Amherst during the 2016-17 academic year.    Watrous graduated from Ithaca College in 2016 with a Bachelor’s of Science in business management. He was a four-year member of the Bombers’ offensive line, helping the team capture a pair of Empire 8 Championships and advance to the NCAA Tournament twice.

Head coach Matt Coyne announced the addition of Matt Wehrhahn to his staff as defensive coordinator/linebackers coach for the 2023 season. He returns to the Bobcats for his fourth year running the defense in 2026. "I am extremely excited to welcome Matt Wehrhahn to the Bates coaching staff as our defensive coordinator and linebackers coach," Coyne said. "Throughout his interview process, it was clear that Matt had all of the characteristics I was looking for to effectively mentor our student-athletes. His experience at multiple levels, and knowledge of the game, made the decision very easy. I am excited to see his positive impact on our team and the Bates College campus as a whole." Wehrhahn joined the garnet and white after serving as defensive analyst (fall 2022) and offensive analyst (spring 2023) with Old Dominion University of the FBS Sun Belt Conference last year. Prior to his time at ODU, Matt's previous collegiate coaching experience came at the Division III level with stops at King's College (Pa.) as linebackers coach, Millsaps College (Miss.) leading the outside linebackers, and at Defiance (Ohio) College as co-defensive coordinator, special teams coordinator, linebackers coach, and recruiting coordinator. An inside linebacker for two seasons at Division II East Stroudsburg (Pa.) University, Wehrhahn achieved a Bachelor of Science in recording arts from Full Sail University (Fla.) and a Bachelor of Arts (communications concentration) from Southern New Hampshire University after his playing career came to a close due to injuries. "I'm excited to join Bates College and be a part of the Bobcat football program," Wehrhahn said. "It's a great opportunity, and I'm thankful to coach Coyne for bringing me in. It was apparent in the interview process the energy and momentum that is building in this program. I'm looking forward to working with the players and building something great."