Professionally, he played five seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as well as in Italy and Spain.

He won two All-ACC honors and helped the team to the 1984 Atlantic Coast Conference championship and to a Sweet Sixteen appearance in the 1984 NCAA tournament.

The Bulls traded his rights to the Portland Trail Blazers for Mike Smrek, but he again failed to make the team and returned to Italy.

In the middle of his second season with the Nets, New Jersey traded him and Mike Gminski to the Philadelphia 76ers for Roy Hinson and Tim McCormick.

[3] For the 1993–94 NBA season, Coleman returned to the U.S. with the Rapid City Thrillers of the Continental Basketball Association.

After Detroit did not retain him, he played on a rest-of-season contract with Roma and the following season with Montecatiniterme Basketball in Italy.