At 14 years old, Coach Milton B. Yates began his journey as competitive wrestler at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, DC. With over 125 Career Wins, Yates finished his High School campaign with 2 DC City/State Championships, 1 Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Championship, and a 4th Place finish at the 1997 National Prep School Wrestling Championships at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA.

Yates continued his athletics career at Howard University on a NCAA Division I Scholarship. He finished with over 50 Career Victories and a 2x NCAA Division I Eastern Regional Finalist.

Upon graduation from Howard University in 2001, Yates returned to Eye Street and became the Head Coach. He remained in this position for 20 Years capturing four (4) DC City/State Team Titles, coaching three (3) All-Americans, coaching DC’s ONLY 4x National Prep All-American, and over 50 Individual DC and WCAC Champions.

In late 2013, Coach Yates joined forces with the DC Wrestling Cobras and by 2014 the DC Takedown Club was born.

Yates served on the National Prep Wrestling Championship Board for 17 years with his last three (3) as President. In addition, Yates served on the Wrestling Coalition of DC Board (USA Wrestling Governing Body) with his last two (2) as President.

For the last 25 years, Coach Yates has dedicated his life to Community Development through Wellness and Youth Sports. Yates is an Adjunct Professor at Howard University in the Department of Health, Human Performance, and Sports Management and Substitute Teacher with DC Public Schools. Yates holds a Masters in Coaching and Athletics Administration from Concordia University Irvine (CA).

Coach Yates was named the 2018 National Prep School Wrestling Championships and Washington Post Coach of the Year. In 2022, he was named the 2022 DC State Athletic Association Coach of the Year. In 2016 he Yates was a President’s Council on Fitness, Nutrition, and Exercise Award recipient.

Coach Yates continues to train regularly and strives to become a World Medalist one day. In 2019 Yates finished 5th in the UWW Veteran World Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia.

A husband and father of three (3), Yates and his family reside in the Deanwood NE DC neighborhood.