NORTH NEWTON, Kan. - Bethel College Athletics is excited to welcome Caleb Coats as the new Assistant Athletic Director of Operations.

Coats brings a well-rounded background in athletics administration, event management, and coaching—having recently served as the Graduate Assistant of Gameday Operations at Friends University. In that role, he was responsible for overseeing over 50 game day events annually across multiple sports, managing student workers, coordinating security, and ensuring seamless operations at both the Garvey Center and Adair-Austin Stadium. His efforts also extended to alumni engagement, sponsorship support, and facility oversight.

In addition to his administrative experience, Coats has served as an assistant baseball coach for multiple programs, including the Derby Twins Summer Collegiate League team and Friends University, demonstrating a strong connection to student-athletes and team development. His leadership and organizational skills also translated into the private sector, where he has served as a Coordinator of Operations at Chick-fil-A, managing more than 85 employees while overseeing scheduling, training, and financial reporting.

Athletic Director Tim Swartzendruber shared his enthusiasm about the hire: "When Stacy Middleton resigned, we changed the title of the position and had tremendous interest in the job. Caleb's experience in game management and supervising student-workers, along with knowing the KCAC, will benefit him greatly in this position. He comes highly recommended, and we are thrilled he will be part of our athletic department."

Coats holds a Bachelor of Science from Friends University and has an MBA.