Coughlin started out his playing career in junior football where he is a SJFA capped player from his time at Newtongrange Star.

Coughlin was assistant manager to Tom Hendrie at Berwick Rangers, helping the club win promotion in 1994.

In 2003, following his dismissal from St Mirren, Coughlin moved to the United States to take up a coaching position with the men's soccer team at Drexel University in Philadelphia.

Despite this, attendances were high relative to the norm in the region's second tier, the CAA Men's Soccer Tournament, with some at the university attributing this to his self-proclaimed "Heavy Entertainment" style of football.

Coughlin has used this frequently since: it involves a high-tempo, direct style of play with tall, strong players deployed, all of whom are well-organised into a rigid and balanced shape.

[5][6] After Colin Cameron was sacked in October 2015,[7][8] Coughlin returned to Berwick Rangers, beginning his second spell in charge of the side in November 2015.

[10] Coughlin was appointed manager of Scottish Lowland League side Selkirk, on 14 February 2018 following the departure of Ian Fergus.