Roy Coates is the head coach of the Northeastern University women's swimming and diving program in Boston, Massachusetts, and entered his 34th season in that position in 2026-27. A 2017 inductee into the Northeastern Varsity Club Hall of Fame, he has led the Huskies to 200 dual meet wins, 25 winning seasons, and 18 consecutive seasons at .500 or better. His tenure has included a major rise in the program's competitive profile, with Northeastern finishing in the top six at the CAA Championships in 10 of 15 seasons and recording a program-best third-place finish at the 2023 CAA Championships.
Under Coates, Northeastern swimmers have reset the program standards across all 15 swimming events and all five relays. In 2023-24 alone, the team established new school marks in four individual events and three relays. He coached Megan Clark, the first CSCAA All-American in program history, the first Northeastern swimmer to qualify for three straight NCAA Championships, and a two-time CAA Swimmer of the Year who finished her career with eight conference titles and three school records. Other conference honorees during his time at Northeastern have included Erin Murphy, the 2024 CAA Diver of the Year, along with Elena Alvarez, Candace Young, and Elly Morrison, who earned major rookie awards.
