 First elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 1972, he chaired many House Committees and was elected as the Speaker of the House for the 2003-2004 Legislative Session.He served as Assistant Commissioner for the Georgia Department of Agriculture under Tommy Irvin from 2007-2010, when he stepped down to run for Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Labor.Born and raised in Dodge County, Coleman graduated from Dodge County High School in 1961.