Charles Bates (American football) facts for kids
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1934 |
| Playing career | |
| c. 1955 | Alabama A&M |
| 1957–1958 | Fort Meade |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1963–1965 | Kentucky State (defensive coach) |
| 1966 | Southern (defensive coach) |
| 1967–1969 | Kentucky State |
| 1972–1977 | Southern |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 43–42–3 |
| Bowls | 1–0 |
Charles Adams Bates (born around 1934) was an amazing American football player and coach. He led college football teams at Kentucky State University and Southern University. He was known for helping his teams win big games!
Contents
Becoming a Football Star
Early Life in Alabama
Charles Bates grew up in Birmingham, Alabama. He loved football from a young age. He worked hard to become a great player.
Playing College Football
Bates played college football at Alabama A&M University. Back then, it was called Alabama A&M College. After college, he played for the Fort Meade football team. This was in 1957 and 1958 while he was serving in the United States Army. In 1959, he even got a chance to play for the Chicago Bears. They are a famous team in the National Football League (NFL).
Charles Bates: The Coach
Starting His Coaching Journey
Charles Bates began his coaching career in high school. He coached at West Highland in Fayette, Alabama and Westfield in Birmingham. He then moved to college coaching. He spent three years as a defensive coach at Kentucky State University. A defensive coach helps players stop the other team from scoring.
In 1966, he became a defensive coach at Southern University. After just one year there, he went back to Kentucky State. This time, he became the head football coach!
Leading the Southern Jaguars
In 1972, Coach Bates took over as the head coach for Southern University's football team. His first season was a bit tough. But then, things really started to change!
Big Wins and a Championship
Under Coach Bates, the Southern Jaguars had some fantastic seasons. They won eight games in both 1974 and 1976. In 1975, they had an incredible year, winning nine games! That year, they even shared the championship title for the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). They also won the Pelican Bowl game against South Carolina State. Winning a bowl game is a huge achievement in college football!
Coach Bates stepped down during the 1977 season. He had a great impact on the teams he coached. His overall record as a head coach was 43 wins, 42 losses, and 3 ties. He also had one bowl game win!
