Wikipedia

Ben McLaughlin

Not to be confused with Ben McLachlan, a tennis player.

Benjamin McLaughlin (born September 22, 1986) is an American college football coach and former quarterback. He is the head football coach for Louisiana Christian University, a position he has held since 2024. He was the head football coach for Buckeye High School from 2022 to 2023. He played college football for Louisiana College—now known as Louisiana Christian—and is a hall of fame inductee. He also played for the Louisiana Swashbucklers of the Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL) and the United States national American football team where they won 2011 gold medal.[1]

Ben McLaughlin
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamLouisiana Christian
ConferenceSAC
Record3–6
Biographical details
Born (1986-09-22) September 22, 1986 (age 38)
Dierks, Arkansas, U.S.
Playing career
2005Henderson State
2006–2007Louisiana College
2009–2010Louisiana College
2011IFAF Team USA
2011Louisiana Swashbucklers
Position(s)Quarterback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2011–2012Louisiana College (RB)
2013Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (QB)
2014–2015Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (OC)
2016–2018Louisiana College (OC/QB)
2019–2021Alexandria HS (LA) (OC)
2022–2023Buckeye HS (LA)
2024–presentLouisiana Christian
Head coaching record
Overall3–6 (college)
8–13 (high school)
Accomplishments and honors
Awards
Louisiana Christian University Athletic Hall of Fame
Melberger Award recipient
AP Little All-American
LSWA Louisiana Collegiate Offensive Player of the Year
2x ASC Offensive Player of the Year
IFAF Gold Medalist
D3Football.com All-South Region First Team
Ben McLaughlin
Medal record
Men's American football
Representing  United States
World Championship
Gold medal – first place 2011 Austria Team Competition

High school career

edit

McLaughlin was the starting quarterback for Dierks High School. He was a two-time All-state football player, and a three-sport athlete. In 2002, he became the starter during his sophomore year. He led his team to an undefeated regular season in 2004—with their only loss coming in the Arkansas state playoffs to finish with an 11–1 season record.[citation needed]

College career

edit

Henderson State

edit

McLaughlin redshirted for 2005 while attending Henderson State University. He transferred the next year to Louisiana College—now known as Louisiana Christian University—in Pineville, Louisiana.

Louisiana College

edit

In 2006, as a redshirt freshman at Louisiana College, McLaughlin became starting quarterback. He finished the year leading the American Southwest Conference (ASC) in passing offense, averaging 276 yards through the air. McLaughlin ranked second in the ASC and 12th nationally in total offense per game. He completed 185-of-316 passes with 21 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. McLaughlin was named the American Southwest Conference freshman of the year.[2]

In 2007, McLaughlin led an offense that finished the season ranked fifth for NCAA Division III offenses, averaging 325.7 yards per game. He ranked eighth nationally in passing offense per game, averaging 297.8 yards per game. McLaughlin threw for a total of 2,978 yards and 21 touchdowns. He also ranked 12th nationally in the category of total offense.

In 2008, McLaughlin received a year-long suspension for violating team rules. He subsequently left the team.[3]

In 2009, McLaughlin returned to Louisiana College. In his first game back he started the season completing a 56-yard touchdown pass for the team's first score of the season.[4] During his redshirt junior season, he established new career-passing yards, total touchdowns, and passing touchdowns records. He was named to the Academic All-Conference team.[5]

In 2010, McLaughlin remained the starter. Following a 49–21 win over East Texas Baptist, he was named ASC Offensive Player of the Week. He went 30-for-36 for 391 yards and four touchdowns, and ran for two more scores. He also ran one touchdown in and accounted for all but one of Louisiana College's seven touchdowns.[6] The following week, he needed 77 yards to become the ASC's career passing leader. He threw for 491-yard and six-touchdown performance in the 62–28 win.[7] Following the game, he was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week.[8] McLaughlin finished the year leading all divisions of football with 3,770 yards passing and 42 touchdown passes.[citation needed] He also had four rushing touchdowns. The team finished 7–3 overall and a program-record 7–1 in their conference.[citation needed]

Following the season McLaughlin was named the ASC Offensive Player of the Year. He also made his second Academic All-Conference team.[9] He was named as a Gagliardi Trophy finalist.[10] He was named to the 2010 D3Football.com All-South Region Team as the First-Team quarterback.[11] McLaughlin was named to the 2010 Little All-America Team, by the Associated Press.[12] He was named to the All-Louisiana College Football team by the Louisiana Sports Writers Association as First-Team quarterback and was named the Offensive Player of the Year.[13] He was selected as the NCAA Division III Player of the Year when he was chosen as the recipient of the Melberger Award.[14] In June, he was named the ASC Male Athlete of the Year, which encompasses all sports.[15]

McLaughlin was selected unanimously during his first year of eligibility to be inducted into the Louisiana College Sports Hall of Fame. Athletic director and head coach Dennis Dunn, recognized McLaughlin on his accomplishments at the 2015 Hall of Fame brunch as part of homecoming weekend activities on October 2, 2015.[citation needed]

Statistics

edit
Passing
Season G Att Com Int Pct. Yds TD Efficiency
2006[16] 9 316 185 7 58.5 2484 21 142.1
2007[17] 10 375 234 15 62.2 2978 21 139.2
2009[18] 10 361 228 10 63.2 2823 27 148.0
2010[19] 10 446 284 13 63.7 3770 42 159.9
Totals 39 1498 931 45 62.1 12,055 111 148.2

Professional career

edit

Louisiana Swashbucklers

edit

In 2011 McLaughlin had been signed to play for the Louisiana Swashbucklers of the Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL).[20] Ben guided the Swashbucklers to the playoffs where they lost to the Albany Panthers in the 2011 SIFL Championship Game.[citation needed] However, Ben had to leave the team prior to the championship game in order to join Team USA in Europe for the gold medal games.[citation needed]

Statistics

edit
Passing
Season G Att Com Int Pct. Yds TD Efficiency
2011 10 319 204 12 63.9 2265 50 108.5

Team USA

edit

In 2011, McLaughlin accepted an offer to play for the US national team for the 2011 IFAF World Cup.[citation needed] The team went undefeated with wins over Canada, Mexico, Germany, and Australia. Ben's 64-yard TD pass in the game vs. Australia was the longest passing TD for the American team during the games.[21] On July 16, 2011, the American team won the gold medal on Tivoli Field in Innsbruck, Austria, by defeating Canada 50–7.[citation needed]

Statistics

edit
Passing
Year # Att Com Int Pct. Yds TD Efficiency
2011 13 14 12 0 85.7 153 1 201.1

Coaching career

edit

In 2011, following McLaughlin's retired he became the running backs coach at his alma mater, Louisiana College.[22]

In 2013, McLaughlin joined Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College (NEO) as the quarterbacks coach. He was promoted to offensive coordinator at NEO for the 2014 season.[citation needed]

In 2016, McLaughlin rejoined Louisiana College as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.[citation needed]

In 2019, McLaughlin joined Alexandria Senior High School offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in Alexandria, Louisiana. He helped lead them to a Class 5A State Runner-Up finish in 2020.[23]

In 2022, McLaughlin was hired as the head football coach for Buckeye High School in Deville, Louisiana.[24]

Ben has also served as the head coach for the Dream Bowl. His first year as head coach was for Dream Bowl V, played on Monday January 16, 2017. It was highest scoring contest in the game's six-year history. Ben returned to coach the annual event and was the winning coach for Dream Bowl VI.[25][26]

On February 22, 2024, McLaughlin returned to his alma mater—now known as Louisiana Christian—as the head football coach.[27]

Personal life

edit

McLaughlin is married to Meagan and have two daughters. They currently reside in Alexandria, Louisiana. In 2012, Ben was diagnosed with having had Type 1 diabetes. McLaughlin is the youngest of two brothers.[citation needed]

Head coaching record

edit

College

edit
Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Louisiana Christian Wildcats (Sooner Athletic Conference) (2024–present)
2024 Louisiana Christian 3–6 2–4
Louisiana Christian: 3–6 2–4
Total: 3–6

High school

edit
Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Buckeye Panthers (Louisiana High School Athletic Association) (2022–2023)
2022 Buckeye 3–7 1–3 4th
2023 Buckeye 5–6 2–3 5th First Round
Buckeye: 8–13 3–6
Total: 8–13

References

edit
  1. ^ Alic, Steve. "Ben McLaughlin of Dierks, Ark., selected to 2011 U.S. Men's National Team in football", USA Football, 14 June 2011. Retrieved on 21 April 2012.
  2. ^ Spears, Barry. "McLaughlin Named ASC Freshman of the Year; Eight Others Honored", Huddle Time, 3 July 2007. Retrieved on 21 April 2012.
  3. ^ Youngblood, Daniel. "HSU preview: Cowboys need win to keep postseason hopes alive", [1], Abilene, TX, 18 September 2009. Retrieved on 20 October 2012.
  4. ^ "Football Blows Out Bacone in Season Opener". Louisiana Christian University Athletics. February 24, 2011. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  5. ^ "More than two dozen LC athletes make Academic All-Conference team". Louisiana Christian University Athletics. February 22, 2024. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  6. ^ "Ben McLaughlin (10/10/2010) - Athlete Awards". ascsports.org. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  7. ^ "McLaughlin breezes past conference passing record in 62-28 win over Howard Payne". Louisiana Christian University Athletics. February 22, 2024. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  8. ^ "Team of the Week". October 20, 2010.
  9. ^ "ASC Fall All-Academic Teams Announced". ascsports.org. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  10. ^ "McLaughlin named finalist for prestigious Gagliardi Trophy". Louisiana Christian University Athletics. February 22, 2024. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  11. ^ Football, D3. "D3football.com 2010 All-South Region Team", d3football, Minneapolis, 9 December 2010. Retrieved on 24 April 2012.
  12. ^ Sports, LC. "LC’s McLaughlin edged for Gagliardi Trophy" Archived December 18, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, Wildcats Media, Pineville La, 16 December 2010. Retrieved on 24 April 2012.
  13. ^ Lowe, Kent. "Peterson Named State's Player of the Year", LSU Sports, Baton Rouge, 24 December 2010. Retrieved on 24 April 2012.
  14. ^ Staff, Diversified web. "McLaughlin Diversified Information Technologies Awards Ben McLaughlin the Melberger Trophy", Diversified Web, 29 December 2011. Retrieved on 24 April 2012.
  15. ^ "Louisiana College QB McLaughlin is ASC Male Athlete of the Year". June 22, 2011.
  16. ^ "2006 Statistics". fanbase.com. 2006. Archived from the original on January 22, 2013. Retrieved April 19, 2012.
  17. ^ "2007 Statistics". ascsports.org. 2007. Retrieved April 19, 2012.
  18. ^ "2009 Statistics". ascsports.org. 2009. Retrieved April 19, 2012.
  19. ^ "2010 Statistics". ascsports.org. 2010. Retrieved April 19, 2012.
  20. ^ "McLaughlin Comes on Board with Swashbucklers". OurSports Central. January 4, 2011. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  21. ^ Frollo, Joe. "U.S. Men’s team opens with 61-0 win over Australia", USA Football, 8 July 2011. Retrieved on 22 April 2012.
  22. ^ Staff, La College. "Ben McLaughlin receives Mehlberger Award" Archived April 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, La College, Pineville La, 8 October 2011. Retrieved on 24 April 2012.
  23. ^ "Acadiana 35, Alexandria 34: Rams turn Trojans away on two-point attempt to repeat as champs".
  24. ^ Gafford, LaMar. "Buckeye names former ASH, Louisiana Christian assistant Ben McLaughlin as new football coach". The Town Talk. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
  25. ^ "Press release" (PDF). www.dreambowl.net. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 28, 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  26. ^ "Press release" (PDF). www.dreambowl.net. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 28, 2017. Retrieved June 18, 2019.
  27. ^ "Ben McLaughlin Tabbed 25th Football Head Coach In Program History". Louisiana Christian University Athletics. February 21, 2024. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ben_McLaughlin&oldid=1255062203"