Ben McLaughlin

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

Ben McLaughlin

Current position
Title	Head coach
Team	Louisiana Christian
Conference	SAC
Record	0–0
Biographical details
Born	(1986-09-22) September 22, 1986 (age 37) Dierks, Arkansas, U.S.
Playing career
2005	Henderson State
2006–2007	Louisiana College
2009–2010	Louisiana College
2011	IFAF Team USA
2011	Louisiana Swashbucklers
Position(s)	Quarterback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2011–2012	Louisiana College (RB)
2013	Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (QB)
2014–2015	Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (OC)
2016–2018	Louisiana College (OC/QB)
2019–2021	Alexandria HS (LA) (OC)
2022–2023	Buckeye HS (LA)
2024–present	Louisiana Christian
Head coaching record
Overall	0–0 (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
	2011 Austria	Team Competition

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]

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 ]}

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. ^[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

		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

Louisiana Swashbucklers

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

		Passing
Season	G	Att	Com	Int	Pct.	Yds	TD	Efficiency
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 ]} 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

		Passing
Year	#	Att	Com	Int	Pct.	Yds	TD	Efficiency
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. ^[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

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

College

Year	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Bowl/playoffs
Louisiana Christian Wildcats (Sooner Athletic Conference)(2024–present)
2024	Louisiana Christian	0–0	0–0
Louisiana Christian:		0–0	0–0
Total:		0–0

High school

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

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", , Abilene, TX, 18 September 2009. Retrieved on 20 October 2012.
4. "Football Blows Out Bacone in Season Opener". Louisiana Christian University Athletics. 2011-02-24. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
5. "More than two dozen LC athletes make Academic All-Conference team". Louisiana Christian University Athletics. 2024-02-22. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
6. "Ben McLaughlin (10/10/2010) - Athlete Awards". ascsports.org. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
7. "McLaughlin breezes past conference passing record in 62-28 win over Howard Payne". Louisiana Christian University Athletics. 2024-02-22. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
8. "Team of the Week". 2010-10-20.
9. "ASC Fall All-Academic Teams Announced". ascsports.org. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
10. "McLaughlin named finalist for prestigious Gagliardi Trophy". Louisiana Christian University Athletics. 2024-02-22. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
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". 2011-06-22.
16. "2006 Statistics". fanbase.com. 2006. Archived from the original on 2013-01-22. Retrieved 2012-04-19.
17. "2007 Statistics". ascsports.org. 2007. Retrieved 2012-04-19.
18. "2009 Statistics". ascsports.org. 2009. Retrieved 2012-04-19.
19. "2010 Statistics". ascsports.org. 2010. Retrieved 2012-04-19.
20. "McLaughlin Comes on Board with Swashbucklers". OurSports Central. 2011-01-04. Retrieved 2024-02-22.
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 2024-02-22.
25. "Press release" (PDF). www.dreambowl.net. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-04-28. Retrieved 2019-06-18.
26. "Press release" (PDF). www.dreambowl.net. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-04-28. Retrieved 2019-06-18.
27. "Ben McLaughlin Tabbed 25th Football Head Coach In Program History". Louisiana Christian University Athletics. 2024-02-21. Retrieved 2024-02-22.

External links

• Melberger Award
• College Football Reference