Dan Coates signs a 2-year contract with Rochester.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Rochester Knighthawks General Manager and Vice President of Lacrosse Operations Dan Carey announced today that the team has agreed to terms with veteran defenseman Dan Coates on a two-year contract, pending league approval.
“We are extremely excited to welcome Dan to our organization,” said Carey. “He is a true professional and natural leader. The way Dan plays, prepares and conducts himself will be a great example for our younger players.”
Coates, 34, was acquired by the Georgia Swarm on July 6, 2020, but was unable to appear in a game following the cancellation of the 2020-21 NLL season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He previously spent nine seasons with the Colorado Mammoth, during which he compiled 75 points (15+60), 492 loose ball recoveries and 139 caused turnovers in 128 career games. He posted his best season during the 2014-15 campaign when he scored one goal and posted career-highs in assists (11) and points (12) in 18 games.
A former first-round selection (8th overall) by Colorado in the 2011 NLL Entry Draft, he departs the Mammoth ranked second in franchise history in caused turnovers (139), fourth in face-off wins (477) and games played (128) and seventh in loose balls (492).
A four-year captain, the St. Catharines, ONT., native also added six points (1+5) and 28 loose balls in 10 postseason contests while leading the team to an unprecedented eight straight playoff appearances from 2012-2019, including a pair of trips to the Western Division Final over a three-year span.
Prior to turning pro, the 6-foot-0, 195-pound defenseman played his collegiate lacrosse at nearby Canisius College. Coates appeared in 50 games with the Griffins during his four-year career at Canisius (2008-11), helping the program capture its first Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Tournament Championship. Coates, the first defender in program history to garner All-MAAC First Team distinction, finished his collegiate career with 113 ground balls and 40 caused turnovers to go along with two goals and four assists