Eastern Michigan Athletics

Sean Coughlin Named EMU Football Assistant Coach

Sean Coughlin Named EMU Football Assistant Coach

2/4/2021 2:00:00 PM | Football

The Kildeer, Ill. native will serve as the offensive line coach

YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — Sean Coughlin has been named an assistant football coach at Eastern Michigan University, Head Coach Chris Creighton announced today, Feb. 4. Coughlin will serve as EMU's offensive line coach.

"We are excited about Coach Coughlin joining our program here at Eastern Michigan," said Creighton. "He is an excellent fit for our culture both on and off the field. He will be taking over a very experienced offensive line and we believe he can make us better. We are ready to get started."

Coughlin owns 20 years of coaching experience in the college ranks, having coached the offensive line at both the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) ranks.

Coughlin spent the last two years with Arkansas State University as the offensive line coach and Run Game Coordinator. In two seasons with the Red Wolves, A-State posted highlight wins over Florida International in the 2019 Camellia Bowl as well as a 35-31 upset of Kansas State in 2020.

Last season, the Red Wolves led the Sun Belt Conference and ranked 14th nationally in total offense at 489.7 yards per game. As for passing offense, Arkansas State led the Sun Belt and ranked third in the nation at 364.4 yards per game.

In 2019, Arkansas State put up impressive numbers behind Coughlin's offensive line, ranking No. 10 in the country in passing offense (312.1 ypg), No. 14 in team passing efficiency (157.55), No. 26 in scoring offense (33.7 ppg), and No. 33 in both total offense (439.3 ypg) and red zone offense (.889).
 
The Red Wolves posted 5,711 yards of total offense for the sixth-most in school history, while their 6.2 yards-per-play average tied the second best mark ever by an A-State team.  The squad completed the year with top-10 marks in program history in 12 different statistical categories, including most points (438, 7th) and most touchdowns (54, 6th).
 
The Red Wolves' offensive line in 2019 featured four All-Sun Belt Conference selections, including third-team picks Jarrett Horst and Jacob Still, and honorable-mention choices Andre Harris Jr. and Ivory Scott.  The Red Wolves excelled behind an offensive line that featured four new starters in 2019.
 
Horst received the Gary Withrow Award, presented annually to A-State's outstanding offensive lineman of the year, and has been tabbed to the 2020 Outland Trophy Watch List.  Harris was named to the 2020 Wuerffel Trophy Watch List as well.

 Coughlin arrived in Jonesboro, Ark. after spending the previous 13 seasons at Missouri State.  He was elevated to associate head coach for the 2018 campaign and served as the Bears' co-offensive coordinator since 2016.
 
Coughlin also oversaw the offensive line since 2008 after previously serving as the tight ends and fullbacks coach his first two years with the program. During his tenure, Coughlin's linemen earned Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) Offensive Lineman of the Week honors 14 times, with 13 all-conference selections and five NFL players.
 
In 2010, standout lineman David Arkin earned consensus All-America and second-team Academic All-America honors before being picked by Dallas in the 2011 NFL Draft. Former Bears Jake Duron and Riley Shantz also inked free agent contracts during Coughlin's tenure.
 
Coughlin also mentored Clay Harbor, a consensus All-American tight end and NFL Draft pick to the Eagles in 2010, as well as Randy Richards, an AP and AFCA All-America selection. Richards enjoyed NFL stints with the Chargers and Buccaneers before catching on in the CFL with Saskatchewan and Calgary.
 
The 2001 Drake University graduate was a standout offensive lineman from his playing days. A three-time All-Pioneer Conference offensive guard for the Bulldogs, he was a first-team all-conference choice from 1998-2000 and earned All-America honors from Football Gazette his final two seasons. He was team captain in 2000.
 
Coughlin coached three seasons (2001-03) at his alma mater, working with the offensive line and tight ends for the Bulldogs while mentoring two all-conference first team linemen.
 
He joined the Iowa State offensive staff in 2004 and spent two seasons there while pursuing his master's in higher education (2006).
 
The Kildeer, Ill., native earned his bachelor's degree in history from Drake in 2001.  

He and his wife, Haley, have daughters, Maddie and Natalia.
2025 Football Week 5 Hype vs. Central Michigan
Saturday, September 27
EMU Football Pregame Press Conference: Week 5 vs. Central Michigan
Monday, September 22
Louisiana: Cinematic Recap
Monday, September 22
⏳ The wait is almost over ⏳
Sunday, September 21