Billy Coleman was an outstanding quarterback and basketball player at Vigor High School in Prichard, Alabama. Coleman was selected to the Mobile All-City team and the Birmingham News All-State team in 1957 and 1958.

During his senior season, he was chosen to play in the Alabama All-Star game in Tuscaloosa. Bill also made the Mobile All-City and the Alabama All-State basketball teams three straight years (1956-58).

Following graduation Coleman earned a scholarship to the University of Alabama to play football, but after one year with the Tide he transferred to East Mississippi Junior College.

Coleman later transferred again to the University of Southern Mississippi where he was the starting quarterback in the early 1960s. In his senior season with the Golden Eagles, Coleman helped his team win a UPI Small College National Championship.

After graduating from Southern Miss, Coleman began coaching high school football in south Alabama. Coleman was named head coach at Citronelle High School in 1965 where he remained until 1971. Each of his seven teams finished with a winning record at Citronelle. He left Alabama for a few years, but returned in 1974 for one season at Patrician Academy in the AISA.

In 1975, Coleman took over the football program at Satsuma High School. Although every team did not excel on the field, his Gator teams were known for playing tough, hard-nosed football each and every season during his tenure.

Following the 1988 season Coleman retired as an Alabama high school head coach with more than 20 years of service and overall record of 113-101-8. He is a member of the Mobile Sports Hall of Fame.