'Good Kid' Tevin Coleman Earned Every Bit of the NFL Spotlight, HS Coach Says

OAK FOREST, IL — Oak Forest High School football coach Brian McDonough wasn't the least bit surprised when Tevin Coleman made it to the NFL.

He can still picture the now Super Bowl-bound Atlanta Falcon in his Bengal black and gold, doing what he did best: everything and anything that was asked of him.

"He was an outstanding teammate," McDonough said. "He never had a negative word for anybody, and he always did what the team needed."

He was versatile on the field, playing running back, wide receiver, and cornerback, and also returned kicks and punts. McDonough asked, and Coleman delivered.

Born premature and so tiny he could fit in his mother's hands, Coleman grew into a "good kid" with a big smile and an unrelenting sense of teamwork.

"Everyone loved Tevin," McDonough said. "He always had a great smile on his face. He was quiet, but whatever we needed, he did."

Like the time one of his teammates got hit hard on the field. Coleman "came all the way from across the field, picked him up, and brought him back to the sideline," McDonough said.

Coleman just consistently showed up, Coach insisted, even when McDonough needed the personal support during a battle with cancer. Diagnosed in 2007, he had stem cell transplants in 2009 and 2010. Just a sophomore at the time, Coleman's maturity stood out as he stood by his coach.

"When I was sick, he was so supportive of me," McDonough said. "He battled through it with me."

Academically, there were no shortcuts for Coleman. He'd come in to school early for tutoring. He stayed out of trouble and studied hard. He excelled in track as well as football.

"I’ve never been around a kid who had to work so hard on his grades," McDonough said. "Never got a detention, never got in trouble.

"He did everything the right way."

In his senior year at Oak Forest High, Coleman was ranked as a three-star recruit and one of the top players in the state of Illinois. He rushed for 948 yards, scored 21 touchdowns and was credited with 44 tackles. He played safety on defense.

I see myself in the NFL really. ... That’s where I want to go. That’s my plan.

—Tevin Coleman, in a 2011 interview with Oak Forest Patch

He went on to play at Indiana University. He ran a 4.3-second 40-yard dash at his pro day, according to ESPN. Among running backs, he led the nation in 50, 60 and 70 and 80-yard runs. He also recorded a 92-yard run.

He rushed for a record 2,062 yards, 15 touchdowns, and caught 25 passes for 141 yards. He was the first Hoosier since 1991 chosen for All-American honors, and declared for the draft as a junior in 2015.

He was picked 73rd overall, drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round. Coleman became the first Indiana running back selected in the draft since 1997. He also holds the honor of Oak Forest High School's first alum to make it to the NFL.

Now in his second season with the Falcons, he played in 13 games for the Falcons during the regular season, carrying the ball 118 times for 520 yards and eight touchdowns. In the Falcons’ NFC Championship game win over the Green Bay Packers, Coleman rushed 11 times for 29 yards. In the divisional round win over the Seattle Seahawks, he had 11 carries for 57 yards.

He's expected to see a number of carries for the Falcons, who are making their first Super Bowl appearance in 18 years.

McDonough recalled Coleman as an Indiana Hoosier against Northwestern, at Northwestern—the guy who waved to his former high school's team in the endzone, as they watched him from the stands. After the game ended and the TV reporters peppered him with questions, Coleman found his way back to McDonough and the high schoolers who had ridden a bus to see him play.

"He made sure he came out and hugged every kid who was there," McDonough said. "That’s the type of person he is.

"I had never been around a kid with so much talent, who was so humble. He had time for everybody. Every coach, every player. He wasn’t too big for anybody.

"I’m so happy for him, it’s unbelievable. He really is a great kid."

—Dennis Robaugh and Tim Moran contributed to this report

Photos Courtesy of Brian McDonough, Oak Forest High School