Danny Coughlin is in his ninth season with the Gilmour Academy volleyball program, and his seventh as the head coach, with the 2021-22 school year. He has continued the highly successful tradition of Lancer volleyball while taking the program to the top of the sport in Ohio. Coughlin owns a 126-35 record as a head coach at Gilmour entering the 2021 season.

In Coughlin’s first year at the helm of the program, the Lancers captured their first state championship in program history as Gilmour compiled a record of 26-3 on the campaign. As a result of his leadership, Coughlin was named Division III Coach of the Year by the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA), as well as the Ohio High School Volleyball Coaches Association (OHSVCA).

Gilmour returned to the state tournament in both 2016 and 2019, registering over 20 wins in each of those campaigns.

The 2020 campaign marked the second state title for the Lancers under Coughlin, and the first at the Division II level. Gilmour went 23-1 on the season and posted a thrilling, come-from-behind win over local foe Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin in the state championship match. On their march to the state title, Gilmour notched its fifth district and fourth regional championship with Coughlin at the helm. After the season ended, GA standout Kathryn Randorf ’22 was named the Gatorade Ohio Volleyball Player of the Year, becoming the first such Lancer to earn that incredibly prestigious accolade.

Coughlin, who was named the Ohio High School Coaches Association District 2 President—a position voted on by his peers—in 2017, previously served two years as an assistant coach (2013-14) for Gilmour. In that time, the Lancers compiled an overall record of 48-10, while earning Division III state runner-up honors both years.

Coughlin’s overall high school volleyball coaching resume spans 28 years and includes an overall high school head coaching record of 401-94.

Prior to arriving at Gilmour, he was the head varsity volleyball coach at Kenston High School for 12 seasons. During that time, his teams compiled a 110-game Chagrin Valley Conference (CVC) winning streak on their way to making nine district final appearances while earning two district titles and one regional championship. He was named CVC Coach of the Year six times and was the 2010 district coach of the year and Ohio Division II Coach of the Year. In 2012, he received the Ohio Coaches Achievement Award.

Coughlin gained additional coaching experience with the Cleveland State University women’s volleyball team, along with high school programs at Vermillion, Buckeye, Black River and North Ridgeville. He coached boys volleyball at Brunswick for four seasons, directing the team to a Final Four appearance each year. He has spent more than a decade as a Junior Olympics coach and was a player for more than 10 years.

Coughlin, who also serves as the Associate Director at Eastside Volleyball Club, was formerly a pediatric and adult critical care flight paramedic and firefighter for the Ravenna Township Fire Department. He formerly served as Gilmour Academy’s full time strength and conditioning coordinator for three years. Coughlin and his wife, Melissa, currently reside in Berea, Ohio, with their two children, Mia (14) and Rowan (11).