Pat Coleman began wrestling as a 7th grader in Westbury, New York and went on to be the top high school wrestler for the Dragons. He recorded two undefeated dual meet seasons before becoming a North Shore (Long Island) champion and "Outstanding Wrestler" at the tournament in 1967. He enjoyed an excellent college career at Harvard where he was voted captain of the Crimson's most successful team to date (15-4 in 1971). A 3-year varsity starter, Coleman was 2-time All-Ivy, 2-time Easterns place-winner, New England NCAA regional champion and 2-time D-1 NCAA qualifier. He was honored as the recipient of two Harvard wrestling awards.

Pat began his coaching career at Brookline High School in 1971 and went on to coach at Newton North High School from 1972 to 1983 where his Tigers won 125 meets and were 2-time Suburban League champions and 3-time D-1 Central Sectional champs.

In 1986 he was voted into the Massachusetts Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame at the age of 37. He changed jobs and didn't return to coaching until 2002 when he started up a very successful Norton Youth Wrestling team at the Norton Program Center of the Attleboro YMCA. Next, Coleman proposed starting a team at Norton High School and the school committee approved. In 2006, the Lancers competed as a JV team and moved up to varsity competition in 2007. During 11 years of Norton varsity wrestling, Coleman's teams earned an outstanding record of 256-64. The Lancers won D-3 state wrestling championships in 2012 and 2014 and were runners-up in 2013 and 2016. In addition, the Lancers won 4 sectional titles and 8 league championships. Coleman is equally proud of the state sportsmanship award won by his team in 2014 (voted by the Massachusetts Wrestling Officials Association) as well as the two MIAA Gold Level Academic Excellence Awards that his Lancers achieved in 2016 (team GPA 3.21) and 2017 (team GPA 3.14) Pat has been voted "Coach of the Year" for the Tri-Valley League (2x), D-3 South & Central Sectionals (5x), local newspapers (5x) and D-3 States (2x). His wrestlers have won 5 individual state titles and 21 individual sectional titles. 11 of his wrestlers have won over 100 matches in their careers, a milestone achievement. In 2012, Coleman was honored as the "Massachusetts D-3 Coach of the Year" by the Boston Globe.

Coleman is married and the proud father of four terrific children (James, Daniel, Julia & Scott) and three wonderful grandchildren (Nora, Laurel & Sam). His youngest son, Scott, won a state title at 145 lbs. for the Lancers in 2012 and holds the team record for most career wins (148). Pat's wife, Dinny, is affectionately called "Mrs. Coach" by the wrestlers and their parents for her dedication to the team. Pat says that he couldn't have accomplished what he did without her help and support.

Coleman gives much credit to his dedicated and talented assistant coaches over the years, especially Jim Cain (Brookline), Norm Walker, Peter Capodilupo, and Richie Starr (Newton North), Peter Holmes, Brian Gallagher and Jeff Francis (Norton) and to the outstanding young athletes and their parents with whom he has had the pleasure of working over the years.