Coughlin was born in Kansas City, Missouri.[4] He was the son of a third-generation police officer.[5] His mother, Stacy, died in February 2010 due to a chronic illness.[6] He had a sister, Angela Laune.[7]
Career
Early years
Coughlin began skating at the age of six. Early in his career, he competed with Krista Smith, Kelsey Parker, and Lucy Galleher. He teamed up with Bridget Namiotka in late 2004.[8] They were the 2006 junior national silver medalists. They announced the end of their partnership on July 3, 2007.[9]
During the 2010–11 season, their Ave Maria long program was a tribute to Coughlin's mother who died in February 2010.[14] They finished fourth at 2010 NHK Trophy and won the first Grand Prix medal, bronze, at Cup of China. At the 2011 U.S. Nationals, they placed first in the short program[15] and then won the free program to earn their first national title.[16]
In April 2011, Yankowskas/Coughlin placed sixth in their debut at the World Championships. It was the best result by an American pair since 2006.[17] On May 4, however, the pair announced that their partnership had ended.[17][18][19]
Partnership with Denney
2011–2012 season
On May 17, 2011, Coughlin announced that he had teamed up with Caydee Denney.[20][21] They trained under coach Sappenfield at the Broadmoor Skating Club in Colorado Springs.[20] Denney and Coughlin had a height differential of 14 inches (36 cm).[22] They made their competitive debut at the Liberty Summer competition in July 2011, winning the short program.[23] At the Nebelhorn Trophy they won the bronze medal. They were assigned to the 2011 Skate America and 2011 NHK Trophy, where they placed fourth and fifth respectively.[24]
Denney/Coughlin made their season debut at the 2012 Nebelhorn Trophy, winning the silver medal.[27] They won bronze medals at both of their Grand Prix assignments, the 2012 Skate America[28] and the 2012 Rostelecom Cup. On December 4, 2012, Coughlin underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left hip.[29][30] As a result, the pair missed the 2013 U.S. Championships but they submitted a petition to be considered for the U.S. team to the 2013 World Championships.[31] They were named in the U.S. team to the event but decided not to compete.[32][33] Coughlin was off the ice for about nine weeks.[34]
Sexual assault allegations, skating suspension, and death
On December 17, 2018, the United States Center for SafeSport listed Coughlin's name with the note "Interim Measure – Restriction", following allegations that he denied.[38] He subsequently resigned as U.S. brand manager for John Wilson Blades.[7] On January 17, 2019, after SafeSport had changed Coughlin's status to "interim suspension", U.S. Figure Skating suspended him.[39]
The following afternoon, police were dispatched to his father's home in Kansas City following a report that Coughlin had been found dead by hanging.[2][3] The department confirmed Coughlin's manner of death to be suicide.[7] The incident report stated that he hanged himself.[40]
In February 2019, SafeSport closed the investigation, saying that "[the Center] cannot advance an investigation when no potential threat exists."[41]
In May 2019, in a Facebook post, former skating partner Bridget Namiotka accused Coughlin of having sexually abused her over a period of two years in the mid-2000s.[42] She had skated with him while she was between the ages of 14 and 17. He was four years older than she was.[42]
Namiotka died on July 25, 2022. Her parents released a statement that said, in part, "Bridget succumbed to her long struggles with addiction after several very difficult years of dealing with the trauma of sexual abuse."[43]
In July 2019, former US ladies' champion and World silver medalist Ashley Wagner reported that Coughlin had sexually assaulted her in 2008 at a US national team training camp.[44]
In December 2019, former US skater Melissa Bulanhagui accused Coughlin of having groomed her and other underage skaters at the rink where they both trained. Bulanhagui was between the ages of 14 and 18 at the time, and Coughlin was five years her senior.[45]
^ abSilverstein, Jason (January 19, 2019). "Coughlin kills self after being suspended". ww.cbsnews.com. On Thursday, SafeSport said Coughlin would face an interim suspension. The same day, U.S. Figure Skating said Coughlin was temporarily suspended from participating "in any capacity, in any activity or competition" tied to the skating league or the U.S. Olympic Committee.