Bio

Bates in 2023 was named the CCAC Conference Athletic Director of the Year in July in a vote of his peers and recognition for the outstanding team Coach Bates has put together in University Park and at Governors State University. 

Coach Bates and his men's basketball team was part of a special milestone Governors State University 100th program victory, Dec. 7, 2022 beating Cardinal-Stritch University (WI) 75-61 at the GSU ARC. GSU men's basketball has an all-time record of 115-150 and has qualified for the CCAC playoffs five of nine years (was not eligible in the first year of the program). GSU qualified 7th seed in 2022-23 for the CCAC playoffs and lost 78-74 at #2 seed Saint Xavier.

Following the 2023-2024 school year, Tony's ninth season on the Prairie as Athletic Director and head men’s basketball coach at Governors State University. He was named to his post on July 1, 2014. Building a program from the ground floor, Bates has created an exciting brand of basketball in the Chicago Southland that thrives on an up-tempo offense and pressure defense.

He is the longest tenured head coach at GSU and continues to build the athletics program adding Women's Bowling and Men's/Women's Indoor-Outdoor track teams for action in 2023-2024.

The exciting five-year plan for GSU Athletics growth will include the adding of softball in 2025-2026 and GSU baseball in 2026-2027.

After eight seasons at GSU, Bates had recorded seven wins over Top 25 teams and compiled a 74-63 (.533) record in CCAC play.

In 2021-22, Bates led the Jaguars to nonconference wins against Cornerstone and Taylor and a third-straight championship game appearance at the Jaguars Tip-Off Classic. GSU also produced an All-CCAC Second Team performer in DeAndrey Robinson II.

The 2020-21 campaign saw Bates direct GSU to its fourth-straight postseason appearance and its third trip to the CCAC Tournament Semifinals. The Jaguars defended their title at the Jaguars Tip-Off Classic and strung together a five-game winning streak.

During the 2019-20 season Bates guided GSU to its third-straight winning season and a third-consecutive postseason appearance. The Jaguars also captured the Jaguars Tip-Off Classic for its first-ever in-season tournament title.

In 2018-19, Bates led GSU to a second-consecutive appearance in the CCAC Tournament Championship Game. He also guided the Jaguars to a second-straight winning season and a pair of victories over ranked opponents. Two of his players — Shane Maple (first team) and Robbie Brooks (second team) — were named All-CCAC.

Bates was named 2018 CCAC Co-Coach of the Year after leading the Jaguars to the CCAC regular season and tournament titles. His 2017-18 squad finished 25-9, advancing to the NAIA Tournament and finishing ranked 14th in the NAIA Division II Coaches' Top 25 Poll. Bates guided the Jaguars to a school-record 11-game winning streak and to 12 consecutive wins on its home court. Bates also mentored CCAC Player of the Year Jalen Miller.

In 2016-17 Bates led GSU to eight wins during its first season in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference, finishing ahead of two other schools in the South Division. Bates guided GSU to a 139-132 victory over Asbury in the NAIA's highest-scoring game of the season and directed his squad to an 18-point win over fifth-ranked St. Francis. The Jaguars finished with a winning record (8-6) at home and ranked as the fourth-highest scoring team in league play, averaging 83.1 points over 21 CCAC games. Bates also recorded a season sweep of his alma mater, Trinity Christian.

Bates led the Jaguars to eight victories during the team’s inaugural varsity season in 2015-16. Season highlights included and a victory against 23^rd-ranked Bellevue and wins over both Purdue schools (North Central and Calumet). The Orange and Black closed the season on a strong note, winning four of its last five contests. Bates coached the GSU club team in 2014-15.

Prior to GSU, Bates spent 14 seasons as men’s associate head coach at St. Xavier University (1999-14). During his time in Mount Greenwood, the Cougars compiled a 346-183 record, recording 20-win seasons 12 times and reaching 30 wins on four occasions. SXU also won two CCAC regular season titles, captured five CCAC Tournament crowns and qualified for nine NAIA National Tournaments.

Before arriving at Saint Xavier, Bates held the positions of basketball coach and athletics director at Tabernacle Christian Academy, where he helped start athletics. In 15 seasons, Bates led the Class A Mighty Eagles to a 385-93 record — averaging 25 wins a season despite not having a home gymnasium — and won five straight Metro Prep Conference championships. Bates was also received seven coach of the year awards. Tabernacle captured a regional and sectional title in 1995-96 and won 49 consecutive conference games.

A Chicago native, Bates played two seasons at Trinity Christian College (1984-86), where he was the nation’s fifth-leading scorer as a sophomore, tallying 507 points in 25 games for a 20.3 average.

Bates received a bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing from Trinity Christian College in 1988. He also holds a master’s degree in athletics administration from Northcentral University (Arizona).

Tony has a son, Nicholas, and a daughter, Lauren, and resides in Richton Park.