Yates has been named Colorado Football Conference Coach of the Year seven times, Metro League Football Coach of the year 13 times, the Denver Post Coach of the Year three times, Gatorade National Coach of the Year once and has 10 career final four appearances, five state title game appearances and three state championships.
Before coaching, Yates led John F. Kennedy to the 1974 3A state championship as a senior. He then played cornerback at Colorado. His coaching career started right out of college in 1980, when he went to work for the legendary Sam Pagano as Fairview’s defensive backs coach.