How one phone call led former Baylor football star to coach at TCU
Corey Coleman never imagined he would end up being a coach after his football career was over.
Coleman rose to prominence from 2013-15 at Baylor, where he emerged as one of the most prolific receivers to ever play in the Big 12 — including a standout performance in a notorious victory over TCU.
Coleman won the Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the nation’s best wide receiver, and was an unanimous All-American in 2015. Coleman was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft and played professionally until 2024.
At this point, Coleman imagined he would kick back and enjoy his time away from the game, but then he received a phone call from his former offensive coordinator, Kendal Briles.
“I never really thought about coaching football,” Coleman said. “I thought I was going to retire and be by the beach. I thought all these crazy things, but once I got done and hung up the cleats, I was getting phone calls.
“Me and Coach Briles are really close. We just started talking, and he said, ‘Hey, I think you would be really good at coaching.’”
Coleman admits he was reluctant at first. His entire football life he was the one receiving coaching, not giving it.
Was he really ready to make the transition? After much self-reflection, Coleman settled on his answer.
“I really thought about it for a long time, and I think it’s my purpose,” Coleman said. “To come back and give to these kids. I feel like I owe it to them, to give them the knowledge that I have and can learn from my mistakes. I can be there for them when they’re going through adversity. I thought about it for a long time and said, ‘I want to rock with it.’”
TCU-Baylor rivalry
Coleman joined head coach Sonny Dykes’ staff in March right before the start of spring practice as the assistant wide receivers coach. He acknowledged it was a bit strange to be coaching at TCU initially after the intensity of the rivalry between his alma mater and the Horned Frogs during his playing days.
Coleman went 2-1 against TCU at Baylor, including having 144 yards and the game-tying touchdown in the infamous 61-58 victory over the Horned Frogs in 2014 that kept TCU out of the College Football Playoff.
“Those games were super big. The atmosphere and the environment was phenomenal,” Coleman said. “Just looking back it, was two really good programs and a private school rivalry that was an amazing time.”
Whatever awkwardness there was quickly dissipated once Coleman got on campus and met the staff. There were plenty of familiar faces with Briles, former Baylor strength coach Kaz Kazadi and former TCU running back Aaron Green also on the staff.
Coleman hit the ground running during the spring and impressed Briles with how naturally coaching came to him.
“It’s awesome. It makes me feel old,” Briles said of having Coleman on staff. “I just love the kid and always respected him. He was always a tremendous football player and incredibly passionate about the game of football. He has an edge to him, and we’re bringing that to the receiver position, which is what we needed.
“I’m just excited for Corey. He’s fired up to come to work every day and see it from a different point of view, which is fun for him. It’s been a great match so far.”
One thing that helped Coleman make such a fast transition is working with Malcolm Kelly, who may be the most underrated wide receiver coach in the country, with four NFL receivers produced since Dykes took over before the 2022 season.
Coleman said learning from Kelly has been excellent for his development as a coach.
“It’s unbelievable. Malcolm is such a great guy, and he’s an amazing coach,” Coleman said. “His resume speaks for itself. Me being with Malcolm, we bounce ideas off of each other, and I learn the ways he does things and the way he handles things.
“He’s been super successful. In my eyes, he’s the best receiver coach in America. He’s helping me out. He’s been there for me every step of the way.”
Empowered by Kelly, Dykes and Briles, Coleman has already made an impact for the Horned Frogs on the recruiting trail and as a coach.
Dykes has been blown away by how quickly Coleman has adapted to his new role.
“He’s a really good communicator. He’s got a good demeanor with kids,” Dykes said. “He’s been a really good recruiter for us. He’s going to be a good coach. For a guy that hasn’t done it before, he seems like he’s done it for a long time. It just comes natural to him because he has the demeanor and has a quiet confidence about him that I think those players pick up on.”
Coleman’s lessons for younger players
When he was thinking of what type of coach he wanted to be, Coleman landed on just being authentic.
He went through everything during his football career from being a first-round pick to playing for the 0-16 Browns in 2017. Frustration in Cleveland led to him being traded in 2018 to Buffalo where he only lasted a month before being cut.
He bounced around with New England, Kansas City and the New York Giants before landing in the USFL with the Philadelphia Stars. Coleman led the USFL in receiving yards and was selected by the Michigan Panthers in the UFL dispersal draft in January 2024.
Less than two months later, Coleman retired from football.
Those adverse moments are now lessons Coleman gives younger receivers at TCU.
“I tell them, ‘Don’t take it for granted.’ You’ll look up, and the opportunity will be gone if you take it for granted,” Coleman said. “It’s a blessing to be here, so every day come in and go your hardest and compete. There’s going to be some adversity, but it’s about how you bounce back from it. That’s what I really preach to them.”
One of the receivers who has enjoyed having Coleman around the most is Eric McAlister. The senior enters the season as TCU’s clear-cut No. 1 receiver, and he has set a goal to be the next NFL draft pick out of Fort Worth.
Who better to learn from than a former first-round pick?
“Working with a guy that won the Biletnikoff and came out of the first round, it’s really a blessing,” McAlister said. “We’ve got to take anything he gives us. He won the awards, he’s been to the first round, he’s been in the league, so it’s just a blessing having him around.”
Helping develop McAlister and the other TCU receivers into NFL draft picks would be a strong debut season for the former Baylor star.
But what does the future hold for Coleman? Could he be leading his own program? For now, it’s just about being the best version of himself.
“I’m going to continue to learn and take the steps moving forward,” Coleman said. “I really don’t know what the future holds, but in the big picture I’m in it to be the best coach in America. I’m going to continue to take the steps that lead me in that direction.”
This story was originally published August 12, 2025 at 11:01 AM.
