| William Penn Bates | |
| Birth Date: | 7 June 1879 |
| Birth Place: | Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Sarasota, Florida, U.S. |
| Player Sport1: | Football |
| Player Years2: | 1898–1901 |
| Player Team2: | Brown |
| Player Positions: | Fullback |
| Coach Sport1: | Football |
| Coach Years2: | 1903 |
| Coach Team2: | Auburn |
| Coach Years3: | 1904–1905 |
| Coach Team3: | Franklin & Marshall |
| Coach Sport4: | Basketball |
| Coach Years5: | 1903–1905 |
| Coach Team5: | Franklin & Marshall |
| Coach Sport6: | Baseball |
| Coach Years7: | 1905–1906 |
| Coach Team7: | Franklin & Marshall |
| Overall Record: | 8–19 (football) 11–9 (basketball) 6–14–1 (baseball) |
William Penn Bates (June 7, 1879 – March 2, 1956) was an American football player and coach of football, basketball, and baseball. He played college football as a fullback at Brown University for four years, including as team captain in 1901.[1] [2] Bates served as the head football coach at Auburn University in 1903 and at Franklin & Marshall College from 1904 to 1905, compiling a career coaching record of 8–19. Bates was also the head basketball coach at Franklin & Marshall from 1903 to 1905, tallying a mark of 11–9, and the head baseball coach at the school from 1905 to 1906, notching a record of 6–14–1.
After graduating from Brown in 1902, Bates was the head football coach for the 1903 Auburn Tigers football team. His team compiled a record of 4–3.[3]
The following year, he became the head football coach at Franklin & Marshall College located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He held that position for the 1904 and 1905 seasons.[4] His coaching record at Franklin & Marshall was 4–16.