The deformation and failure process of coal rock under different strain rates is a significant challenge which must be solved in dynamic excavation. It is important to study the influence of strain rate on the evolution of coal rock crack. The triaxial compression tests and acoustic emission tests under the strain rate of 10−5 s−1 to 10−3 s−1 were conducted on coal rock using MTS 815 hydraulic servo-control testing machine. During the loading process, acoustic emission energy and spatial distribution have obvious stage characteristics. The damage variable is defined by acoustic emission energy, and the rate of damage evolution is obviously affected by the strain rate. Based on stage characteristics of acoustic emission energy, spatial distribution, and damage evolution, the use of damage evolution curve to determine stress threshold is proposed. In order to verify the rationality of the damage evolution method, the stress threshold values determined by damage evolution method and existing method are compared and analyzed. In order to study the effect of strain rate and confining pressure on the stress threshold, the stress thresholds under uniaxial and triaxial stress states at different strain rates were analyzed.