GLENVILLE, W.Va. - Glenville State University Athletics and the Men's Basketball program are mourning the loss of Pioneer Hall of Famer Tom Coates. The iconic star passed away last week and was honored at his funeral on Tuesday.
Coates came to Glenville as a two-year transfer from Allegheny Community College. During his two years as a Pioneer, he was a First Team All-Conference performer and earned Honorable Mention All-America status in 1977. He closed his career with 949 points and 433 rebounds, averaging 17.9 PPG and 8.2 RPG. Despite only playing two seasons for legendary coach Jesse Lilly, Coates' remains on the school's all-time list in both categories. 

After Glenville, Coates spent two seasons in NBA camps, the New Orleans Jazz and the Detroit Pistons. He continued to play in several leagues in the following years.

Bill Lilly, current GSU Men's Basketball assistant and son of legendary Glenville State coach Jesse Lilly Jr., talked about Coates:
"Tom Coates came to Glenville State initially for the Fall 75 semester. When school started every fall, it was a great time to head up on campus after class at Gilmer HS and see who the new players were in the college program. You have to remember, this period of time was shortly after guys like Jack Robinson, Earl Hawkins, Steve Datcher, Ron Jones, Jim Garnett and a lot of others who were instrumental in a couple of WVIAC tournament championships had just finished up.  

I remember asking Dad who was going to be the guy now? He responded something like this.... "You need to get your tail end up to the gym tomorrow. The new guy from Pittsburgh may be the best we have ever had."  
"Tom Coates was a true blessing for Glenville," Director of Athletics Jesse Skiles said. "He was a Hall of Famer that always came back...he was here every year for both Homecoming and Winter Homecoming and would also pop over to Wheeling to see the Pioneers in the MEC Tournament. He never forgot his time and Glenville and what he meant to the people in this community."

The Pioneer family sends its deepest condolences to the Coates family.