[1] Educated locally at the Christian Brothers in Holy Cross, Tralee, he entered the Catholic University of Ireland School of Medicine, Cecilia St., Dublin, and graduated with a BA in 1886, and with a medical degree MB BCh BAO from the Royal University of Ireland in 1888.
Gaining the RUI Travelling studentship he studied physiology in Madrid, Louvain, Marburg, and Leipzig.
A nationalist, who supported Home Rule, he was a close friend of John Dillon, he was also a member of the Gaelic League.
[3] Coffey was awarded the Knight Grand Cross of the Pontifical Order of St. Sylvester (GCSS) by the pope for his services to education.
[5] Coffey succeeded William Delany SJ becoming the first president of UCD as a constituent college of the National University of Ireland.