 Coleman returned to inter-county coaching when he was added to Bertie Óg Murphy's Cork under-21 management team as a selector in advance of the 1996 Munster Championship.His first season with the team was a successful one, with Cork claiming the Munster Under-21 Championship after a 12-point victory over Clare.Coleman helped Cork to a second successive provincial title in 1997 after a late goal against Tipperary sealed a one-point win.