Philly Flyers Voice Steve Coates Retires

Steve Coates is retiring after 43 years as a Philadelphia Flyers radio and television broadcaster, reports The Philly Business Journal.

Known to generations of Flyers fans simply as Coatesy, he began his broadcast career with the team in 1980 as a radio color commentator along with legendary play-by-play man Gene Hart.

Coates, 72, served as studio host on Flyers telecasts on Channel 29 (WTAF-TV) and Channel 57 (WGBS-TV) between 1984 and 1991 and then spent six seasons as the radio color analyst on WIP-AM.

He switched over to television in 1999 and spent the next 16 seasons at NBC Sports Philadelphia either as a color commentator or between-the-benches reporter for the Flyers. He then moved back to radio, working with play-by-play man Tim Saunders on 97.5 the Fanatic and 93.3 WMMR for the last nine seasons.

While on television, Coates hosted a regular segment that aired during the first intermission called Coatesy’s Corner, where he interviewed players, provided analysis and often created comedy skits.

Coates won two Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards (2000 and 2004) for Best Live Sports Coverage Series and has also served as the television color commentator for Philadelphia Phantoms and Flyers Cup telecasts during his broadcast career.

The Toronto native was a player before switching over to broadcasting. The right winger signed with the Flyers as a free agent in 1973 after a college career at Michigan Tech. He played four years in the Flyers minor league system before being trading to the Detroit Red Wings, where he played five games. He then spent three more years in the minors before hanging up his skates.

Coates will continue to be active in both team and Flyers Alumni events following the 2022-23 season, and will be honored in a special pre-game ceremony before the Flyers play the Buffalo Sabres at the Wells Fargo Center on April 1.