NORMAL, Ill. – The Illinois State Athletics family mourns the loss of Hall of Fame cross country/track and field coach John Coughlan, who passed away at the age of 80 on Thursday, June 17, 2021 surrounded by his loving family at Carle Bromen Medical Center.
Coughlan is the most decorated cross country/track and field coach in Redbird history, having guided the ISU men's program for 23 seasons and the women's squad for eight campaigns. Retiring from Illinois State following the 2000 MVC Outdoor Championship, his tenure included five top-25 team finishes at the NCAA Championships, 25 MVC championships, 291 individual conference champions and 19 MVC Athletes of the Year.
"Coach Coughlan is a legend in the sport of track and field and cross country and has mentored generations of coaches across the country," ISU Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Jeff Bovee said. "His passing is being felt deeply by scores of Redbird alumni and staff near and far. He was generous to so many in his mentorship and friendship and stayed in tune with the landscape of the sport well past his time as the head coach of the Redbirds. John always wanted to see the Redbirds at the top of their game and I personally strive to attain the same level of success that he achieved in the sport. He and his wife, Sue, have been such active parts of the Bloomington-Normal community since his retirement, and I know he will be missed by so many in and around Redbird Athletics."
A 24-time Valley Coach of the Year, Coughlan earned district coach of the year honors nine times and was selected as the 1995 National Coach of the Year. On the national level, he shepherded 195 student-athletes to the NCAA Championships in 18 different track events, producing 37 All-Americans, and guided five athletes to the United States Olympic Trials. He also served a four-year term as a member of the Executive Committee of the NCAA Division I Track Coaches Association.
He is a member of the Illinois State Athletics Percy Family Hall of Fame (1993), the Drake Relays Hall of Fame (1997), the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame (2006) and the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame (2009).
Visitation will be 4-7 PM Thursday, June 24, 2021 at Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington, Illinois. His memorial service will be 10 AM Friday, June 25, 2021, at East White Oak Bible Church, Carlock, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Living Stone Communities, 306 N. Main St., 5th Floor, Bloomington, Illinois, or Gideon's International.
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