The Manitoba sports community is mourning the passing of Shawn Coates, a man who made a career out of his love of athletics.
"I remember when we interviewed him, I asked him, 'Why do you want to be in this job?'” said Football Manitoba president Brian Marks. “And he said, 'I just love sports. I love sports people. I want to be around it every day, all the time, in any way that I can.'"
Coates became executive director of Football Manitoba in February of last year.
At various times, he also worked for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the CFL head office and the Winnipeg Gold Eyes.
When he wasn’t being paid to attend sporting events, he showed up anyway with a camera, always ready to capture the action.
"He was doing it for us,” said University of Manitoba Bison linebacker DJ Lalama. “I mean, obviously he enjoyed it on a personal level, but at the end of the day it's, us that get to see ourselves in action, and that was something special."
Upon learning of Coates' death, many people took to Facebook and Twitter to share fond memories of the man they say touched so many.
"Very sad to hear last night passing of Shawn Coates. He was a genuinely good person who always went out of his way to make you feel good,” read a tweet from former Bombers coach Paul LaPolice.
Legendary Bombers receiver Milt Stegall couldn’t help but smile when thinking about the passion his old friend had for sports and for building relationships with people.
"It's difficult,” said Stegall. “But when you look back on it and the things he did for so many people, you're happy that man was on earth."
Lalama says he and many other Bisons athletes will always be able to remember the pinnacle of their athletic lives, thanks in part to the intimate moments in time captured by Coates.
"It's something to look back to and appreciate and give thanks, in a sense, to Shawn and to the time he devoted to us,” said Lalama.
A cause of death for Coates has not been released, but Winnipeg police say it is not considered suspicious.
