Named Canadian Female Athlete of the Year in 1970, she retired from competitive swimming in 1972 at the age of 19.

Part of her post-competitive career was spent as a swim coach and mentor to younger swimmers.

While still quite young, she showed early promise as a swimmer, and including the ability to set aside everything in order to practice.

[3] Coughlan won a bronze medal as a member of Canada's third-place team in the women's 4x100-metre freestyle relay, together with teammates Marilyn Corson, Elaine Tanner and Marion Lay.

A stem cell transplant was initially successful, but she suffered a relapse and succumbed in 2009 at the age of 56,[2] only days before she was to be recognized at the annual Celebration of Significant People Concert in Hamilton, Ontario.