In 1940 Coleman met Portlaoise textile chemist N. J. Dunnington, who joined him in explorations of caves in South Cork.
In 2007, he was appointed as manager of Portlaoise's senior football team, with Tom Prendergast, Paddy Fitzpatrick and George Plunkett as his selectors and he was an instant success leading The Town to their 24th Laois Senior Football Championship title.
He began his club football career with Portlaoise with whom he won minor and under 21 honours but it with his second club The Heath that Roe played a starring role in 1993 when they won a memorable Laois Senior Football Championship title.