John Coughlin (footballer)

John Coughlin (born 11 April 1963 in New York City) is a football player and manager.

John Coughlin
Coughlin at Berwick Rangers
Personal information
Full name John Coughlin
Date of birth (1963-04-11) 11 April 1963
Place of birth New York City, United States
Position(s) Right back
Youth career
Newtongrange Star
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1991–1993 Meadowbank Thistle 68 (3)
1993–1996 Berwick Rangers 14 (1)
1997–1998 Alloa Athletic 0 (0)
Total 82 (4)
Teams managed
2002–2003 St Mirren
2003–2004 Drexel Dragons
2005–2007 Berwick Rangers
2007–2010 Stenhousemuir
2011–2014 East Stirlingshire
2015–2017 Berwick Rangers
2018 Selkirk
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He played for Meadowbank Thistle and Berwick Rangers until injury forced him out of the game. He is a SJFA capped player from his time at Newtongrange Star.

Following his playing career, Coughlin began a career in management with St Mirren.

Playing career

Coughlin started out his playing career in junior football where he is a SJFA capped player from his time at Newtongrange Star.

He signed for the club Meadowbank Thistle in 1991 where he played until 1993, before moving to Berwick Rangers until injury forced him out of the game. Coughlin was assistant manager to Tom Hendrie at Berwick Rangers, helping the club win promotion in 1994. He left Berwick Rangers in 1996 and joined Alloa Athletic along with Hendrie where they also lead Alloa to promotion in 1998.

Managerial career

St Mirren

In 1998 Coughlin joined St Mirren and helped lead them to the championship in 2000. He was appointed St Mirren manager in December 2002, but results faltered and he stood down the following November.

Drexel Dragons men's soccer

In 2003, following his dismissal from St Mirren, Coughlin moved to the United States to take up a coaching position with the men's soccer team at Drexel University in Philadelphia. Under his management, the Dragons finished a disappointing 8th out of 12 teams in the regular season. Despite this, attendances were high relative to the norm in the region's second tier, the CAA Men's Soccer Tournament, with some at the university attributing this to his self-proclaimed "Heavy Entertainment" style of football. Coughlin has used this frequently since: it involves a high-tempo, direct style of play with tall, strong players deployed, all of whom are well-organised into a rigid and balanced shape. The team became renowned for converting a high amount of its goal shots from set plays.

Coughlin resigned from his coaching role with Drexel once the regular season ended, and returned to Scotland in 2004.

Berwick Rangers

Coughlin became Berwick Rangers manager in May 2005. He won the Manager of the Month prize for August 2005 and September 2005. Another great run, which set a new club record of eight league wins in a row. The months of December 2006 and January 2007 saw John awarded the Manager of the Month award again, and moved Berwick to the top of the Scottish Third Division. Berwick won the 2006–07 Scottish Third Division championship, their first title since 1979. It was Coughlin's third league title but the first in his own right. However, following a poor start to the 2007–08 season, Coughlin resigned as manager.[1]

Stenhousemuir

In 2007, Coughlin then became manager of Stenhousemuir. He guided the club to promotion into the Second Division via the Second Division play-offs, beating Queen's Park in the 2-legged semi-final and then Cowdenbeath in the 2-legged final in May 2009.[2] Coughlin resigned in December 2010 after a 6–0 defeat against East Fife.[3]

East Stirlingshire

East Stirlingshire appointed Coughlin as head coach on 30 May 2011.[4] His first two seasons in charge saw the struggling club finish bottom of the Scottish Football League. The team improved during the 2013–14 season, but Coughlin declined the offer of a new contract.[5][6]

Return to Berwick Rangers

After Colin Cameron was sacked in October 2015,[7][8] Coughlin returned to Berwick Rangers, beginning his second spell in charge of the side in November 2015.[9] He left Berwick in August 2017, after a 5–1 defeat against Annan Athletic.[10]

Selkirk F.C.

Coughlin was appointed manager of Scottish Lowland League side Selkirk, on 14 February 2018 following the departure of Ian Fergus. Coughlin cited the opportunity to work with his nephew, a player at the club, as a key reason for joining. However, he would resign after only four games in charge.[11]

Managerial statistics

As of 19 August 2017

Team From To Record
GWDLWin %
St Mirren September 2002 November 2003 53 13 16 24 024.53
Drexel Dragons men's soccer December 2003 November 2004 18 4 3 11 022.22
Berwick Rangers[lower-alpha 1] July 2005 October 2007 85 50 13 22 058.82
Stenhousemuir October 2007 December 2010 138 45 39 54 032.61
East Stirlingshire May 2011 May 2014 122 30 20 72 024.59
Berwick Rangers November 2015 August 2017 71 20 17 34 028.17
Total 469 158 105 206 033.69
  1. Berwick Rangers statistics are league only
  • Berwick Rangers are based in England but play in the Scottish Professional Football League.
  • Above note relates to Coughlin's first spell at Berwick Rangers.

Managerial honours
Berwick Rangers
Stenhousemuir

References
  1. "Couglin resigns as Berwick boss". BBC Sport. 7 October 2007. Retrieved 7 October 2007.
  2. "St'muir 0–0 C'denbeath (5–4 pens)". BBC News. 23 May 2009.
  3. "Coughlin resigns at Stenhousemuir". BBC News. 12 December 2010.
  4. "East Stirlingshire name John Coughlin as new head coach". BBC News. 31 May 2011.
  5. "Shire - Head Coach Vacancy". www.spfl.co.uk. Scottish Professional Football League. 14 April 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  6. "East Stirlingshire: Replacement sought for boss John Coughlin". BBC Sport. BBC. 16 April 2014. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
  7. "Berwick Rangers part company with Colin Cameron". berwickrangers.com. 31 October 2015. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  8. "Montrose 4–1 Brewick". berwickrangers.com. 31 October 2015. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  9. "Coughlin named new Berwick boss". SPFL. 6 November 2015. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  10. "Berwick Rangers: Manager John Coughlin leaves after three league games". BBC Sport. BBC. 22 August 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  11. http://www.bordertelegraph.com/sport/15996288.Coughlin_appointed_as_new_Selkirk_manager/?ref=fbshr
  • John Coughlin at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database
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