Chris Coleman was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota, as the son of Bridget Finnegan and Nicholas Coleman, Sr., who served as State Senate majority leader from 1973 to 1981. Coleman attended Cretin High School in St. Paul. His brother Nick Coleman was a columnist and reporter for the Minneapolis "Star Tribune" and the "St. Paul Pioneer Press" , and their stepmother, Deborah Howell, was an editor for the "Minneapolis Star" and the "St. Paul Pioneer Press" and an ombudsman for "The Washington Post". He is of no relation to former mayor and U.S. Senator Norm Coleman.