Inductees

Athlete Bio


Track & Field

Cross Country

Keith D. Coughlin

Class of 1978

One of the finest cross-country and track athletes in school history, Keith Coughlin went on to become a college All-American and run in the NCAA Championships in both sports.

Born and raised in Mahwah, NewJersey, Coughlin was a track and cross-country standout at Mahwah High School before h is family relocated to Concord prior to his junior year in the summer of 1976.

It didn't take long for Coughlin to make an impact on the crosscountry team, as he helped the harriers win back-to-bar k Dual County League championships in undefeated fashion. Running for legendary coach Jim Hayes, Coughlin established the CCHS course record with a time of 14:02 in 1977, and earned Boston Globe All-Scholastic honors as a senior after placing fourth in Eastern Massachusetts and eighth at the state meet.

Despite the lack of an indoor training facility, Coughlin was equally impressive in the winter track season, where he was the two-time DCL 2-mile champion and set the school record in that distancewith a time of 9:48.

Coughlin conti nued his success on the outdoor track, winning the DCL title in the 2-mile even t, clocking a remarkable 9:31 at that distance, the best ever at CCHS. As a senior in 1978, Coughlin shocked the track team by playing baseball, earning his varsity letter as an infielder for coach Brent Clark.

Following graduation from CCHS, Coughlin matriculated to Southeastern Massachusetts University (UMassDartmouth), where he established himself as one of the greatest athletes in school history. A member of both the crosscountry and outdoor track teams, Coughlin was a two-time All-American for the Corsairs after establishing school records in the 3-mile, 6-mile, 5,000 meter and 10,000 meter distances that stood until 1992. Also selected All-New England and All-East as a senior, Coughlin represented UMD at the NCAA Division III National Championships in both cross-country and track, placing third in the 10,000 meter run as a senior in 1982.

The 1982 UMD Male Athlete of the Year, Coughlin was inducted in to th at school's Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994.

"Thanks to the effor ts of three outstanding cross-country coaches in succession, Dick Stack ofMahwah HS, Jim Hayes ofCCHS and Robert Dowd ofUMD, I was able to reach my potential," said Coughlin, who isemp loyed by Pentair, Inc. as a sales representative. "[im Hayes wasmy inspiration -he demonstrated compassion, courage, and a good natured spirit I wil l always treasure. I always felt th at he was there with me during my collegiate career. I still think about him today."

A resident of Cheshire, Connecticut, Keith and wife, Mary, have a daughter Kar a and son Ryan.