Coughlin graduated from Woodridge High School in Peninsula, Ohio in 1988, received a BA from Bowling Green State University in 1992, and a Masters of Public Administration from BGSU in 1994. In 1996, he ran for the Ohio House of Representatives after Representative Wayne Jones vacated to run for the Ohio Senate. He won the seat, and was sworn into office on January 3, 1997. He won reelection in 1998 with 63.64%, and again in 2000 with 63.9% of the vote.