USF Athletics

Chris Cates rejoined the South Florida coaching staff on July 2023 as an assistant coach and was named Director of Player Development in June 2024 to remain on staff under Coach Hannahs. Cates was previously on staff at South Florida from 2015-19. 

His role in the offense saw the Bulls improve in batting average, slugging, on-base percentage and stolen bases in 2024. USF ranked 44th in the NCAA with 86 stolen bases after stealing just 39 bases in 2023. The 86 stolen bases were the most by a USF team since 2002 (110 SB). Cates’ work with the infielders also helped lead to another First Team All-Conference season for Bobby Boser.

Cates arrived back in Tampa after spending the previous three seasons (2021-23) as an assistant coach at UCF. He also had two stints on the coaching staff at the University of Tampa and spent a season as an assistant at Florida State. Cates was drafted in the 38th round of the 2007 MLB Draft by Minnesota out of the University of Louisville and spent five seasons in the Twins' organization.

Cates primarily worked with the infielders, assisted hitters and coached third base while at UCF.

He rejoined the Tampa Spartans in 2020 after previously coaching at UT during the 2014 campaign.

The Bulls made three NCAA Regional appearances (2015, 2017, 2018) during Cates' previous tenure at USF. Among the players Cates worked with were Kevin Merrell (1st round pick by Oakland in 2017), David Villar (11th round pick by San Francisco in 2018), Coco Montes (15th round pick by Colorado in 2018) and Joe Genord (9th round pick by the New York Yankees in 2019).

Prior to USF, Cates was an assistant at Florida State University for the 2013 season. His primary responsibilities at FSU were in the development of the outfielders. Cates helped guide DJ Stewart, a 2015 first-round pick of the Baltimore Orioles, as well as other MLB draft picks Josh Delph (Angels) and Marcus Davis (Padres). In addition, Cates also worked in the outfield with former Heisman Trophy winner and current NFL QB Jameis Winston.

Selected in the 38th round of the 2007 MLB First Year Player Draft by Minnesota, Cates played for five seasons in the Twins' minor league organization. He was named a two-time All-Star in the minors, earning his first nod in 2008 with the Beloit Snappers out of the Class A Midwest League. A year later, Cates made his second All-Star team, this time in his first season at the Class A-Advanced level of the Florida State League with the Fort Myers Miracle. In 2009, Cates earned the Twins' organizational Defensive Player of the Year. Cates turned his second All-Star appearance into a promotion to the Double-A Eastern League, where he spent two seasons playing with the New Britain Rock Cats before retiring from professional baseball in 2011. 

Cates graduated from the University of Louisville in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in sports administration. A four-year starter at shortstop for the Cardinals (2004-07), Cates started 239 games and hit .302 with 270 hits, 162 runs scored, 101 RBIs, 44 doubles, five triples and three home runs. He also showed great strike zone discipline, finishing his career with 89 walks to just 69 strikeouts. A 3-time all-conference player, Cates played an integral role in leading Louisville to its first-ever College World Series appearance in 2007. Voted team captain by his teammates and coaches, Cates was a semifinalist for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award and the recipient of the Men's BIG EAST/Aeropostale Scholar-Athlete award, which earned him a postgraduate scholarship.

Chris and his wife, Meagan, have a son, Cohen.