[1] Coats attended Brisbane Grammar School where he developed his abilities as an opening batsman and he was later coached by Sidney Redgrave.

As of 1932 he was reported to be strong on the legside but weak on the offside with a sound defense as a batsman.

[3] His form fell away in 1936 and he left Northern Suburbs to play in the lower standard Warehouse cricket competition however after scoring 297 runs averaging 99.00 in the competition he returned to Northern Suburbs and scored what was described as a "flawless" century for the club against Valley in late 1937 which resulted in him being seriously considered for selection for Queensland for the away games of the 1937/38 Sheffield Shield.

[9] By December 1944 Coats was playing for the Supply team in Australian services cricket.

[14] In December 1953 he was a delegate for Norths to the Queensland Cricket Association meeting.