William Penn Bates (June 7, 1879 – March 2, 1956) was an American football player and coach of football, basketball, and baseball.

He played college football as a fullback at Brown University for four years, including as team captain in 1901.

[1][2] Bates served as the head football coach at Auburn University in 1903 and at Franklin & Marshall College from 1904 to 1905, compiling a career coaching record of 8–19.

Bates was also the head basketball coach at Franklin & Marshall from 1903 to 1905, tallying a mark of 11–9, and the head baseball coach at the school from 1905 to 1906, notching a record of 6–14–1.

[3] The following year, he became the head football coach at Franklin & Marshall College located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.