Coates read English and Social and Political Sciences (SPS) at Magdelene College, Cambridge, graduating in 2000.
[4] Coates joined The Times in 2000 as a graduate trainee, working on the diary, foreign desk, and general reporter.
[9] His reaction to Boris Johnson ruling himself out in the 2016 Conservative Party leadership election led to Coates featuring in the Daily Mirror and other outlets.
[17] He also appeared on ABC's Insiders programme on 2 May 2010 alongside future Sky News colleague Adam Boulton.
[19][20] Coates obtained a leaked document regarding the impact of a no-deal Brexit[21] which featured widely in news outlets in the UK and Ireland.