I have scant knowledge of Coats, either, and should stop with that. But, must say he never set the world on fire, neither for good nor for ill, and in recent years he really produces mostly a yawn. Coats doesn’t really sound like the type for Intelligence, but maybe his harmlessness, makes him perfect. What do I know.
Another FReeper said his name is a “float” for DOI, but it will NEVER happen. Not over National Intelligence.
Considering Trump, in the last couple of days, indicates a mind to shrink the out of control congregation of intelligence-type agencies, perhaps Coats was/is thought to be adept at breaking down and doing away with the excesses among the several overstaffed and leaks-like-a-sieve turf warring departments dotting the landscape in Washington.
DC is falling all over itself with government employees, as you well know, better than anyone. Apparently, it includes Intelligence.
Stop. Coats is not a Rhino save your smears forb Johnnie and Leslie.