Born in, County, Coughlan first excelled at football in his youth. He arrived on the inter-county scene at the age of seventeen when he first linked up with the minor team, before later joining the under-21 and junior sides. He was a Munster runner-up on three occasions.
Throughout his career Coughlan played just five championship games foreign
His retirement came following the conclusion of the 1965 championship.
Mitchelstown Cork Intermediate Football Championship (1): 1965 Cork Junior Football Championship (1): 1961 Cork Minor Football Championship (1): 1960 Avondhu Cork Senior Football Championship (1): 1961 Cork Munster Junior Football Championship (1): 1962 Munster Under-21 Football Championship (1): 1963 All-Ireland Minor Football Championship (1): 1961 Munster Minor Football Championship (2): 1960, 1961.
He made his senior debut during the 1962 championship and was a regular member of the starting fifteen for a brief period.
