Ryan Coughlin (born April 4, 1973) is a Canadian former professional

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

offensive lineman In gridiron football, a lineman is a player who specializes in play at the line of scrimmage. The linemen of the team currently in possession of the ball are the offensive line (OL), while linemen on the opposing team are the defensive line ( ...

who played three seasons with the

Montreal Alouettes The Montreal Alouettes (Canadian French, French: ''Les Alouettes de Montréal'') are a professional Canadian football team based in Montreal, Quebec. Founded in 1946, the team has disbanded twice and been re-established thrice. The Alouettes compe ...

of the

Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; , LCF) is a Professional gridiron football, professional Canadian football league in Canada. It comprises nine teams divided into two divisions, with four teams in the East Division (CFL), East Division and f ...

(CFL). He was selected by the Alouettes in the second round of the 1997 CFL draft after playing

CIS football U Sports football is the highest level of amateur play of Canadian football and operates under the auspices of U Sports, Canada's governing body for university sports. Twenty-seven teams from Canadian universities are divided into four athlet ...

for the

McGill Redmen The McGill Redbirds (formerly the McGill Redmen) and McGill Martlets are the varsity athletic teams that represent McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. History In 1868, the first recorded game of rugby in North America occurred in M ...

McGill University McGill University (French: Université McGill) is an English-language public research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821 by royal charter,Frost, Stanley Brice. ''McGill University, Vol. I. For the Advancement of Learning, ...

Early life

Ryan Coughlin was born on April 4, 1973, in

Renfrew, Ontario Renfrew is a town on the Bonnechere River in Renfrew County, Ontario, Canada. Located one hour west of Ottawa in Eastern Ontario, Renfrew is the fourth largest town in the county after Petawawa, Pembroke and Arnprior. The town is a small tran ...

. He played hockey for the

Nepean Raiders The Nepean Raiders (French: Raiders de Nepean) are a Junior A ice hockey team based in Ottawa, Ontario. The Raiders compete in the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) as a member of the East Division. The team plays its home games at the Nepean S ...

of the

Central Junior A Hockey League The Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL; French: ''Ligue de hockey du Canada centrale'', LHCC) is a Junior A ice hockey league in North America composed of 12 teams – all around the National Capital Region. The CCHL is one of the nine Junior ...

(CJHL), appearing in 53 games during the 1988–1989 season and 34 games during the 1989–1990 season. He was selected in the fourth round, with the 59th overall pick, of the 1990 OHL draft by the Hamilton Dukes. Coughlin played in nine games for the Kanata Valley Lasers of the CJHL during the 1991–92 season. Coughlin was a member the

McGill Redmen football The McGill Redbirds football team represents McGill University in Canadian football in U Sports and is based in Montreal, Quebec. The program is one of the oldest in all of Canada, having begun organized competition in 1874 McGill Redmen football ...

team of

from 1992 to 1996. He started 25 of 26 games for the Redmen during his final three seasons. Coughlin also played hockey during his freshman year at McGill, appearing in nine games while recording an assist and a goal (which was a game-winner).

Professional career

Coughlin was selected by the

in the second round, with the 14th overall pick, of the 1997 CFL draft. He dressed in 17 games for the Alouettes during his rookie year in 1997, recording three special teams tackles and one fumble recovery. He dressed in 17 games for the second consecutive season in 1998, and posted three special teams again as well. Coughlin dressed in 14 games during the 1999 season, and made one special teams tackles. He also spent time at

long snapper In gridiron football, the long snapper (or deep snapper) is a Center (gridiron football), center on American football positions#Special teams, special teams whose duty is to Snap (gridiron football), snap the football over a longer distance, ty ...

during his time with the Alouettes. Going into 2000 season, Coughlin was lined up for a starting position due to the retirement of

Neal Fort Neal Fort (born April 12, 1968) is an American former professional football player. In college, he played for Brigham Young University. He was an offensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL) for the Los Angeles Rams and the Canadian F ...

. However, Coughlin unexpectedly announced his retirement as well on June 11, 2000, stating "This (playing football) isn't what I want to do. My heart isn't in it. It's a bad way to leave, but for me, this is the easiest way to do it."

Personal life

Coughlin taught high school science and physical education during the CFL off-seasons.

References

External links

Stats Crew profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Coughlin, Ryan Living people 1973 births Canadian football offensive linemen Canadian football long snappers McGill Redbirds football players Montreal Alouettes players Players of Canadian football from Ontario People from Renfrew County Canadian men's ice hockey players McGill Redbirds and Martlets ice hockey players Ice hockey people from Ontario Nepean Raiders players Kanata Lasers players