Dan Coates is going into his 12th National Lacrosse League season (4th with the Knighthawks).
A St. Catharine’s, Ontario native, Coates played his first eight seasons with the Mammoth in Denver before joining the Knighthawks in 2022. He has played 39 games with the Knighthawks, scoring 3 goals and adding 25 assists. He was also part of the leadership group that led the hawks to the playoffs last year.
He has had a distinguished career outside of the NLL as well, winning three Mann Cup championships with the Six Nations Chiefs in 2013, 2014, and 2016. He also represented Canada at the 2014 World Lacrosse Championships and the 2015 World Indoor Lacrosse Championships.
A Canisius grad, he led the team to it’s first MAAC tournament championship, and was named a First-Team All-MAAC defender.
He is a talented player on and off the floor, and his discipline (especially during his time in Rochester) has been second to none. Since joining the Knighthawks, he has established himself as one of the few defenders in the league who barely racks up any penalty minutes. Listen to some of Dan’s lessons and tips on how to be a top defender in the NLL without being sent to the penalty box.
The Lacrosse Matrix podcast is a weekly show created by lacrosse journalist Adam Levi, which features interviews with players and coaches around the league. It can be found on Lacrosse Culture Daily or wherever you get your podcasts!