As a student at Washington State University (WSU), Coleman was introduced to the LDS Church by John M. Madsen and Judith Renee England.

[1] After graduating from WSU, Coleman went on the receive master's and doctorate degrees from Brigham Young University (BYU).

Prior to his call as a general authority, Coleman was an instructor in the Church Educational System.

At the time of his call as a general authority he was the assistant director of the Institute of Religion in Ogden, Utah, adjacent to Weber State University.

[3][4] In 2012, Coleman was the keynote speaker at Brigham Young University's 41st Annual Sidney B. Sperry Symposium on the Scriptures.