Fr Coll was born in Letterkenny on 25 August 1963. On completion of his theological studies he was ordained on July 3 1988 for the Diocese of Raphoe. He completed his Licence and Doctorate in the Pontificial Gregorian University in Rome in 1995. He has taught in St Eunan’s College Letterkenny and Pobalscoil na Rosann, Dungloe, lectured at St Patrick’s College, Carlow and was Professor of Religious Studies and Religious Education at St Mary’s University College in Belfast from 2001 until 2020 when he was recalled to parish work as a parish priest in Raphoe diocese.