Coates was a clone trooper who served in Raven Squadron as a captain. He was born in Kamino in 33 BBY where he was trained as part of the Grand Army of the Republic. At the outset of the Clone Wars, he was assigned to Raven Squadron and worked his way through the ranks, gaining the trust of Silas Portrun and ultimately being promoted to captain. He was with the Galactic Republic until it was reorganized into the Galactic Empire. He served as an Imperial stormtrooper for three years before being killed in a giant battle that took many days and soon ended as a defeat against pirates in 16 BBY.