Dan McLaughlin Enters Broken Bow Athlete Hall Of Fame

BROKEN BOW – After just completing his 14th year as head football coach for Wayne State College, Dan McLaughlin was recognized by a school he coached at over 30 years ago.

Friday night during a basketball double header, coach McLaughlin was inducted into the Broken Bow Athletic Hall of Fame when Broken Bow hosted Wood River. The Broken Bow Athletic Booster Club made the announcement last weekend.

The booster club president gave coach McLaughlin a call a couple weeks ago.

“Again, I was only there just a short time, so I just didn’t think that’d ever be a possibility,” said McLaughlin. “I just really didn’t know what to say but I’m exited about and really looking forward to maybe seeing some former players and I think that’s the best part of it.”

One of Dan McLaughlin’s high school stops for coaching was Broken Bow in 1984. He served as head boys basketball coach for four seasons which included trips to the Nebraska boys state basketball tournament in 1987 and 1988 making it to the state semi-finals each year. In 1987, McLaughlin took over as Broken Bow head football coach leading the Indians to the Class B state title. On their road to the title, Broken Bow avenged a regular season loss to Ord by winning in state semi-finals 40-7 and upset undefeated Elkhorn in the state championship game 24-14.

Following his time at Broken Bow, McLaughlin would lead Norfolk to the Class A state football championship in 1994 and would later coach Millard West to a Class A state title in 2001 making him the only head football coach in Nebraska state history to win state football championships at three different schools.

McLaughlin served as a basketball coach during his high school coaching years as well.

“So, I was always gravitated towards football in terms of coaching,” McLaughlin added. “But I’ve always coached both and enjoyed both and that’s just kind of been the way it has. Until I got into college, of course, and then that all ended.”

Dan McLaughlin is the all-time wins leader at WSC with a career record of 75-81 overall and 71-70 in the NSIC. He is also the second-longest tenured coach in the conference trailing only Winona State’s Tom Sawyer (23 years) and recently tied Del Stoltenberg with 14 years at WSC (1969-1982).

The Wildcat football team will host a National Signing Day Party along with announcing their 2019 Spring Game in the coming months.

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