Is it possible to remove the coat hooks behind the seats to gain a little more reclining room?

 

I would say it is possible.
I just had a look at the one behind my passenger seat (LHS on my car) and it is loose and wobbly, no idea why.
Loose enough so I can see/tell it is bolted or screwed onto the plastic panel from behind, probably two screws or bolts, and odds on you can remove those screws or bolts once you have pulled that panel off.

Edit - forgot to add, the seat back has an inbuilt hollow/indentation which fits over the coat hook such that when the seat is fully back/reclined the coat hook doesn't touch the seat at all, so removing the hooks is not going to help.
At least that is the case with the "performance" seats on my car, dunno about the "sports" seats but I would bet they are the same.

 

Interesting, the window sticker that came with my car says performance seats, but no indention in the back. It looks like if I could remove it I could gain a little recline.

 

I just twigged that you have a 19R.
I'm fairly sure the 19 got redesigned / slimmer seats and if so that might explain why you have no indent in the back.