John Coughlin Jr. returned for his second coaching tenure at Worcester State in 2007 after helping guide the 1974 and 1977 ice hockey teams to ECAC Division III Championships.

A 1999 member of the WSU Athletics Lancer Hall of Fame, Coughlin coached the team from 1972-1977 as an assistant to his father, John Coughlin Sr. and recruited one of WSU's two All-Americans as well as eight ECAC Division III All-Stars.

Coughlin's other coaching experiences have included a stint as Wachusett's assistant from 1970-1977 as well as serving as an assistant at Becker College during the 2006-07 season and the assistant coach for the Holy Cross Ice Hockey club team in 2007. Coughlin also was an ice hockey official for ECAC Division II and III games from 1970-88 as a member of the NIHOA Chapter of Central Mass.

A 1970 graduate of American International College, Coughlin helped the Yellow Jackets win the ECAC Division II Championship in 1969.

The artificial turf field on the campus of Worcester State was dedicated to John Coughlin, Sr, Coughlin's father, in 1986.