Brian Coughlin was announced as Lake Erie College's volleyball coach on Jan. 5, 2011 after serving the previous three years as an assistant coach at NCAA Division I Cleveland State University.

“Brian has a proven track record of success as both an assistant coach at the college level and a head coach at the high school level, and we are very excited to have him lead our volleyball program,” said Director of Athletics Griz Zimmermann.  “He is a tireless worker and his background and experience, especially here in Northeast Ohio, give him the tools to successfully lead the Storm in the GLIAC and ultimately at the regional and national level.”  

Coughlin was an assistant with the Division I Vikings for the past three seasons, helping the team to 59 victories and a .634 winning percentage during that stretch, including a 48-15 mark the last two years.  The Vikings advanced to a pair of Horizon League Championship matches and won the school’s first outright league regular season title in 2009.

He took on a big role in the program's recruiting efforts, helping Cleveland State sign several of the top players in Ohio over the last three years.  Coughlin has also coached the Maverick Juniors Club team for five years.

In addition to his on-court coaching duties with the Vikings program, Coughlin also assisted with video and film, helped with the preparation of scouting reports and worked summer camps as an instructor.

Coughlin, who has over 15 years coaching experience, arrived at CSU after a highly successful career as a high school coach in which he posted a 105-27 overall record, including a 60-4 league record, at three schools.  At Kenston High, he directed the team to four conference titles, a pair of district and one regional championship while sending 10 players into the collegiate volleyball ranks. 

Prior to that, he was the head girl’s varsity coach at North Ridgeville and Brunswick high schools and directed the boy’s program at Brunswick as well. He was a four-time coach of the year honoree, including the 2000 Plain Dealer Coach of the Year.  

A graduate of Brunswick High, Coughlin earned his Bachelor's of Art in philosophy from Akron in 2003.