Ben McLaughlin
{{Short description|American football player (born 1986)}}
{{distinguish|text=Ben McLachlan, a tennis player}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox college coach
| color =
| name = Ben McLaughlin
| image =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|09|22}}
| birth_place = Dierks, Arkansas, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| current_title = Head coach
| current_team = Louisiana Christian
| current_conference = SAC
| current_record = 4-7
| player_years1 = 2005
| player_team1 = Henderson State
| player_years2 = 2006–2007
| player_team2 = Louisiana College
| player_years3 = 2009–2010
| player_team3 = Louisiana College
| player_years4 = 2011
| player_team4 = IFAF Team USA
| player_years5 = 2011
| player_team5 = Louisiana Swashbucklers
| player_positions = Quarterback
| coach_years1 = 2011–2012
| coach_team1 = Louisiana College (RB)
| coach_years2 = 2013
| coach_team2 = Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (QB)
| coach_years3 = 2014–2015
| coach_team3 = Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (OC)
| coach_years4 = 2016–2018
| coach_team4 = Louisiana College (OC/QB)
| coach_years5 = 2019–2021
| coach_team5 = Alexandria HS (LA) (OC)
| coach_years6 = 2022–2023
| coach_team6 = Buckeye HS (LA)
| coach_years7 = 2024–present
| coach_team7 = Louisiana Christian
| overall_record = 4-7 (college)
8–13 (high school)
| career_highlights =
| 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
}}
{{MedalTableTop}}
{{MedalSport|Men's American football}}
{{MedalCountry|{{USA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|World Championship}}
{{MedalGold|2011 Austria|Team Competition}}
{{MedalBottom}}
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.Alic, Steve. [http://www.usafootball.com/news/press-box/ben-mclaughlin-dierks-ark-selected-2011-us-mens-national-team-football "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.
High school career
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|date=February 2024}}
College career
=Henderson State=
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=
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.Spears, Barry. [http://www.huddletime.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=3097 "McLaughlin Named ASC Freshman of the Year; Eight Others Honored"], Huddle Time, 3 July 2007. Retrieved on 21 April 2012.
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.Youngblood, Daniel. [https://archive.today/20130202031419/http://www.reporternews.com/news/2009/sep/18/no-headline---hsu_capsule/ "HSU preview: Cowboys need win to keep postseason hopes alive"], [http://www.reporternews.com/], Abilene, TX, 18 September 2009. Retrieved on 20 October 2012.
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.{{Cite web |date=2011-02-24 |title=Football Blows Out Bacone in Season Opener |url=https://www.lcwildcats.net/news/2009/9/5/FB_9509.aspx?path=football |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=Louisiana Christian University Athletics |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-22 |title=More than two dozen LC athletes make Academic All-Conference team |url=https://www.lcwildcats.net/news/2009/12/1/FB_1201092649.aspx?path=football |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=Louisiana Christian University Athletics |language=en}}
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.{{Cite web |title=Ben McLaughlin (10/10/2010) - Athlete Awards |url=https://ascsports.org/awards.aspx?aow=1268&path=football |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=ascsports.org |language=en}} 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.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-22 |title=McLaughlin breezes past conference passing record in 62-28 win over Howard Payne |url=https://www.lcwildcats.net/news/2010/10/16/FB_1016105700.aspx?path=football |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=Louisiana Christian University Athletics |language=en}} Following the game, he was named to the D3football.com Team of the Week.{{Cite web |date=2010-10-20 |title=Team of the Week |url=https://www.d3football.com/awards/tow/2010/week7 |language=en}} McLaughlin finished the year leading all divisions of football with 3,770 yards passing and 42 touchdown passes.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}} He also had four rushing touchdowns. The team finished 7–3 overall and a program-record 7–1 in their conference.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}
Following the season McLaughlin was named the ASC Offensive Player of the Year. He also made his second Academic All-Conference team.{{Cite web |title=ASC Fall All-Academic Teams Announced |url=https://ascsports.org/news/2010/11/23/MXC_1123102741.aspx |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=ascsports.org |language=en}} He was named as a Gagliardi Trophy finalist.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-22 |title=McLaughlin named finalist for prestigious Gagliardi Trophy |url=https://www.lcwildcats.net/news/2010/11/24/FB_1124100842.aspx |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=Louisiana Christian University Athletics |language=en}} He was named to the 2010 D3Football.com All-South Region Team as the First-Team quarterback.Football, D3. [http://www.muhlenberg.edu/pdf/main/athletics/d3football-all-south-region-2010.pdf "D3football.com 2010 All-South Region Team"], d3football, Minneapolis, 9 December 2010. Retrieved on 24 April 2012. McLaughlin was named to the 2010 Little All-America Team, by the Associated Press.Sports, LC. [http://wildcats.ehclients.com/index.php/newspaper/article/lcs_mclaughlin_edged_for_gagliardi_trophy#/images/sized/images/uploads/DSC_5183_1-400x266.jpg "LC’s McLaughlin edged for Gagliardi Trophy"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218072615/http://wildcats.ehclients.com/index.php/newspaper/article/lcs_mclaughlin_edged_for_gagliardi_trophy#/images/sized/images/uploads/DSC_5183_1-400x266.jpg|date=December 18, 2010}}, Wildcats Media, Pineville La, 16 December 2010. Retrieved on 24 April 2012. 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.Lowe, Kent. [http://www.lsusports.net/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=5200&ATCLID=205058894 "Peterson Named State's Player of the Year"], LSU Sports, Baton Rouge, 24 December 2010. Retrieved on 24 April 2012. He was selected as the NCAA Division III Player of the Year when he was chosen as the recipient of the Melberger Award.Staff, Diversified web. [https://archive.today/20120724114856/http://www.diversifiedweb.com/AboutUs/News/MelbergerTrophyBenMcLaughlin.aspx "McLaughlin Diversified Information Technologies Awards Ben McLaughlin the Melberger Trophy"], Diversified Web, 29 December 2011. Retrieved on 24 April 2012. In June, he was named the ASC Male Athlete of the Year, which encompasses all sports.{{Cite web |date=2011-06-22 |title=Louisiana College QB McLaughlin is ASC Male Athlete of the Year |url=https://www.d3football.com/seasons/2010/contrib/20110622481yxp |language=en}}
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|date=February 2024}}
=Statistics=
Professional career
= Louisiana Swashbucklers =
In 2011 McLaughlin had been signed to play for the Louisiana Swashbucklers of the Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL).{{Cite web |date=2011-01-04 |title=McLaughlin Comes on Board with Swashbucklers |url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/mclaughlin-comes-on-board-with-swashbucklers/n-4135368 |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=OurSports Central |language=en}} Ben guided the Swashbucklers to the playoffs where they lost to the Albany Panthers in the 2011 SIFL Championship Game.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}} 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|date=February 2024}}
== Statistics ==
| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" | !! colspan="7" | Passing | ||||||||
| Season | G | Att | Com | Int | Pct. | Yds | TD | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| style="background: #CEBE70;"
|2011 | 10 | 319 | 204 | 12 | 63.9 | 2265 | 50 | 108.5 |
= Team USA =
In 2011, McLaughlin accepted an offer to play for the US national team for the 2011 IFAF World Cup.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}} 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.Frollo, Joe. [http://www.usafootball.com/news/national-teams/us-men%E2%80%99s-team-opens-61-0-win-over-australia "U.S. Men’s team opens with 61-0 win over Australia"], USA Football, 8 July 2011. Retrieved on 22 April 2012. On July 16, 2011, the American team won the gold medal on Tivoli Field in Innsbruck, Austria, by defeating Canada 50–7.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}
== Statistics ==
| class="wikitable"
!colspan="2"| !!colspan="7"| Passing | ||||||||
| Year | # | Att | Com | Int | Pct. | Yds | TD | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| style="background: #CEBE70;"
|2011 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 0 | 85.7 | 153 | 1 | 201.1 |
Coaching career
In 2011, following McLaughlin's retired he became the running backs coach at his alma mater, Louisiana College.Staff, La College. [http://www.lacollege.edu/ben_mclaughlin_mehlberger_award "Ben McLaughlin receives Mehlberger Award"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120409063124/http://www.lacollege.edu/ben_mclaughlin_mehlberger_award|date=April 9, 2012}}, La College, Pineville La, 8 October 2011. Retrieved on 24 April 2012.
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|date=February 2024}}
In 2016, McLaughlin rejoined Louisiana College as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}
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.{{cite web | url=https://www.theadvertiser.com/story/sports/high-school/2020/12/30/updates-alexandria-vs-acadiana-class-5-a-state-championship/3971508001/ | title=Acadiana 35, Alexandria 34: Rams turn Trojans away on two-point attempt to repeat as champs }}
In 2022, McLaughlin was hired as the head football coach for Buckeye High School in Deville, Louisiana.{{Cite web |last=Gafford |first=LaMar |title=Buckeye names former ASH, Louisiana Christian assistant Ben McLaughlin as new football coach |url=https://www.thetowntalk.com/story/sports/high-school/football/2022/01/06/buckeye-hires-ash-trojans-ben-mclaughlin-new-football-coach/8946887002/ |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=The Town Talk |language=en-US}}
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.{{cite web |url=http://www.dreambowl.net/sp-datastore/media-files/CESM%20COMCAST%20PRESS%20RELEASE.pdf |title=Press release |website=www.dreambowl.net |access-date=2019-06-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428144017/http://www.dreambowl.net/sp-datastore/media-files/CESM%20COMCAST%20PRESS%20RELEASE.pdf |archive-date=2017-04-28 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.dreambowl.net/sp-datastore/media-files/Dream_Bowl_V_Press_Release.pdf |title=Press release |website=www.dreambowl.net |access-date=2019-06-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170428144019/http://www.dreambowl.net/sp-datastore/media-files/Dream_Bowl_V_Press_Release.pdf |archive-date=2017-04-28 |url-status=dead }}
On February 22, 2024, McLaughlin returned to his alma mater—now known as Louisiana Christian—as the head football coach.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-21 |title=Ben McLaughlin Tabbed 25th Football Head Coach In Program History |url=https://www.lcwildcats.net/news/2024/2/22/ben-mclaughlin-tabbed-25th-football-head-coach-in-program-history.aspx |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=Louisiana Christian University Athletics |language=en}}
Personal life
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|date=February 2024}}
Head coaching record
=College=
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Louisiana Christian Wildcats
| conf = Sooner Athletic Conference
| startyear = 2024
| endyear =
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2024
| name = Louisiana Christian
| overall = 4-7
| conference = 3-5
| confstanding =
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Louisiana Christian
| overall = 4-7
| confrecord = 3-5
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
| overall = 4-7
| bowls = no
| poll = no
| polltype =
| legend = no
}}
=High school=
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = Buckeye Panthers
| conf = Louisiana High School Athletic Association
| startyear = 2022
| endyear = 2023
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2022
| name = Buckeye
| overall = 3–7
| conference = 1–3
| confstanding = 4th
| bowlname =
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| championship =
| year = 2023
| name = Buckeye
| overall = 5–6
| conference = 2–3
| confstanding = 5th
| bowlname = First Round
| bowloutcome =
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = Buckeye
| overall = 8–13
| confrecord = 3–6
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
| overall = 8–13
| bowls = no
| poll = no
| polltype =
| legend = no
}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://archive.today/20120724114856/http://www.diversifiedweb.com/AboutUs/News/MelbergerTrophyBenMcLaughlin.aspx Melberger Award]
- [https://archive.today/20130119001502/http://www.cfbreference.com/teams/louisiana-college/2010/players/ben-mclaughlin/19/QB/ College Football Reference]
{{Louisiana Christian Wildcats football coach navbox}}
{{Melberger Award}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:McLaughlin, Benjamin}}
Category:American football quarterbacks
Category:Henderson State Reddies football players
Category:Louisiana Christian Wildcats football players
Category:Louisiana Swashbucklers players
Category:Louisiana Christian Wildcats football coaches
Category:Northeastern Oklahoma A&M Golden Norsemen football coaches
Category:High school football coaches in Louisiana
Category:Coaches of American football from Arkansas