Chris Coles enters his fifth season as an assistant coach on Frankie Smith's staff after 17 seasons of coaching at the high school level. As an assistant varsity and head reserve coach, Coles helped Ross High School in Hamilton, Ohio to a 16-5 record in the 2006-07 campaign. Coles served three seasons at Ross after serving in the same position for two seasons at Talawanda High School in Oxford, Ohio. Prior to that, Coles was the Head Varsity Coach at Vestaburg High School. Coles helped lead the Wolverines to more wins during the 1998-99 season than the previous three seasons combined. Prior to that, Coles coached at Mt. Pleasant Sacred Heart, Toledo Central Catholic and Beal City High School.

Coles was a three year letter winner at Saginaw Buena Vista High School from 1984-86, helping the Knights to three straight Class B State Championship game appearances. Coles climaxed his career by hitting the game winning shot in the 1986 state title game. Known as the "The Shot", Coles launched a 55-footer that swished at the buzzer giving Buena Vista the crown. In addition, Coles earned 1^st team All-State, All-Area, All-League, and was named to the "Saginaw News" Dream Team during his senior year. Coles was rewarded for his efforts by playing in the Michigan High School All-Star game and also the Michigan vs. Iowa All Star game. Coles played one season at Central Michigan University during the 1986-87 season.

Coles is a 2006 graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, obtaining a bachelors degree in physical education. His wife, Robin, is a nursing student at SVSU. Coles has three children; Tyson, Taya, and C.J.. His father, Charlie, is the head coach at Miami University of Ohio.