THE sport of Basketball was in mourning yesterday when the news filtered through that John Coughlan passed away peacefully at Ballincollig Community Care Centre.
Mr. Coughlan as he was affectionately known in basketball circles came on the basketball scene through his involvement with DePaul Boys Club which had its inception in 1959 at St Vincent’s, Sunday’s Well.
He was then a senior prefect at the Boy’s club that catered for the youth of the area between the ages of 14 and 18 years.
Within twelve months basketball, which was just beginning to be introduced as a sport for juveniles in the northside, was added to the other activities of the boy’s club and so Mr. Coughlan and his lifelong basketball saga began.
It wasn’t long before he embraced the game and DePaul under his guidance became a force at juvenile level along with other northside clubs Iona and Neptune.
John organised summer leagues for the DePaul club members at Lisin, Strawberry Hill and later in their own outdoor court at Wyse’s Hill in 1963.
The game really got into his bloodstream and he became actively involved at Cork County Juvenile Board level as the secretary a position he held for a number of years.
Whilst he was to the forefront of Cork juvenile basketball, he oversaw the foundation Blue Demons Basketball Club in 1966 and was the Demons chairperson from 1967 to 1974 and later was given the honour of becoming a honorary life vice president of the club later to become club president in 2004, an office he held until his death.
He still was active a county board level and with the late Billy Coffey they guided the fortunes of Cork basketball for nigh on 30 years Billy as Chairperson/Administrator and Mr. Coughlan as President.
Coughlan was held in such high regard that a juvenile club tournament was held in his honour during his lifetime.
He was an Honorary Life Member of Basketball Ireland and was inducted into the Blue Demons Hall of Fame during their 50th Anniversary Celebrations and the Cork County Men’s Basketball Board inducted him to their Hall of Fame in 2022.
John Coughlan spent a lifetime serving at all levels of the game of basketball as he helped nurture many clubs and the County Board.
It was his dedication that helped the sport of basketball from humble beginnings to one of the most popular games played by so many in this country.
Speaking to The Echo his fellow founding member at Blue Demons Jim Dineen reflected on a lifetime working with the great man.
“The respect that John was held in was quite remarkable for not alone his contribution to the sport but also the guidance he gave helped many of our members to have successful business careers,” he said.
May he Rest in Peace.