COLEMAN - CLARKSON ATHLETIC HALL of FAME

Unquestionably the most decorated student-athlete in the history of Clarkson Athletics, John Coleman’s list of accolades in his senior year alone would probably be enough to merit inclusion in the Golden Knights’ Athletic Hall of Fame.

A two-sport standout in both basketball and baseball, the local product proved that the coaching staff doesn’t always have to scour the state and the country when recruiting athletic talent. Coleman was selected as the Liberty League Rookie of the Year as well as ECAC Upstate Rookie of the Year in basketball and was later chosen as the Liberty League Rookie of the Year in baseball in 2012. He ranked third in the nation in field goal percentage while on the court and ranked in the top 10 in the conference in scoring, rebounding, assists, and steals as a first-year collegian, and while on the diamond he slashed .324/.390/.456 all while playing a sterling shortstop as one of the top defenders in the region.

That first year marked the beginning of unmatched excellence at Clarkson. Coleman became a four-time Liberty League All-Star in baseball and a three-time all-star for basketball. As consistent as they come on the hardwood, the throwback of a player dominated in all facets of the game and became a nightmare for opposing teams. Coleman joined the 1000 point club as a junior and as a senior became the school’s all-time leading scorer in basketball with 1689 points while also breaking records for most field goals made (752) and steals (219). In his stretch of four seasons on the court, he made more shots than any other player in NCAA Division III while also placing ninth in points, 10th in steals, and 23rd in field goal percentage. For baseball, Coleman routinely was a difficult out at the plate, hitting .352 with 179 career hits, second in program history. In four seasons, he struck out only 29 times in 508 at bats, and his defense at shortstop was first-rate as the sure-handed infielder committed only 10 errors in the final 73 games of his career.

In his senior year alone, Coleman was selected as an NABC Division III Second-Team All-American and DIII News All-American Honorable Mention for basketball and an ABCA/Rawlings NCAA Division III All-Region First-Team member as well as D3Baseball.com New York Region First-Team honoree. He became the first male non-track/cross country student-athlete to be named Liberty League Player of the Year in multiple sports and received Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-American First-Team honors for both sports, the fourth and fifth times, respectively, that he received CoSIDA Academic All-American honors. However, his most impressive feat as a student-athlete came when he was chosen as the Capital One/CoSIDA Scholar Athlete of the Year for all of Division III.

Following graduation, Coleman was invited to the 2016 NCAA Honors Celebration at the NCAA National Convention as a recipient of the 2016 Today’s Top 10 award. He was one of just 10 student-athletes out of 530,000 that year to earn the honor, which recognizes former student-athletes for their successes on the field, in the classroom, and in the community.