Building a wall-mounted rack when stud spacing is inconvenient

I want to mount a sturdy rack in the utility room, but the studs don't line up with where the hooks need to go. The rack will hold coats and a few heavy bags. I thought about fastening a painted plywood backer across two studs, then attaching the hooks anywhere along the board. That seems much more sensible than relying on a row of drywall anchors. Any advice on board thickness, fasteners or making the backer look intentional?