College football star Connor Coats passed away tragically in a car accident in San Diego on August 2, 2025, while driving with his girlfriend and her sister.
Originally from Virginia Beach, Virginia, Connor Coats is survived by his parents, Crystal Coats Richards and Danny Richards, his sister, Hannah, and his girlfriend, Aspen.
Sadly, the accident happened the day before his sister Hannah’s 12th birthday, turning what should have been a joyful time into an unimaginable nightmare for his family.
Reportedly, Connor was driving his truck with his girlfriend and her sister, who were both asleep at the time. Authorities believe Connor may have fallen asleep at the wheel, causing his truck to veer to the left and collide with a semi-truck.
Connor didn’t survive the tragic accident. Whereas, his girlfriend sustained minor injuries and is recovering, while her sister underwent surgery to repair a broken femur.
His parents and his sister rushed to San Diego after receiving the devastating news. They described themselves as being in a “fog and in shock” as they try to process their loss.
Upon arriving, they were met with an outpouring of love from friends and the community, many of whom offered their homes for the family to stay in during this difficult time.
His mother, Crystal, expressed her gratitude for the overwhelming response, writing:
We want to say thank you to everyone who has reached out to us. We want to say thank you to everyone who has donated to the fundraiser that was headed up by Monica. And to everyone who has sent donations on other platforms.
Crystal
Juju, his girlfriend’s best friend, penned a lengthy eulogy on her Instagram. She praised Connor for the way he loved his girl, writing:
But what I’ll always hold closest is how you loved Aspen. I watched the way you treated her, like a princess, and I’ll be forever grateful for the way you took care of my best friend. You gave her so much joy.
Juju
A GoFundMe account has been created to help his family with the funeral costs, which has almost reached its target of $28K.
Connor Coats was a freshman wide receiver and return specialist at Mt. San Jacinto College.
He began his career at Great Oak High School, where he played varsity football as both a wide receiver and defensive back, wearing jersey number 12.
During his high school years from 2020 to 2023, he also competed on the junior varsity.
Connor recorded a 4.45-second 40-yard dash, a 10.8-second 100-meter dash, and a 48.5-second 400-meter dash.
After high school, he joined Mt. San Jacinto College in 2024, continuing to play as a wide receiver for the #SOAREAGLE team.
So far, details about his funeral services have yet to be published by his family.
During this difficult time, we offer our heartfelt condolences to Connor’s parents, sister, friends, teammates, and extended family.
Rest Easy, Connor Coats!
