Nov 12, 2014 4 min read

Pete Coughlin might have one of the most unorthodox throwing motions in college football. That’s all right for running backs, wide receivers and tight ends, but not for quarterbacks.

Just don’t tell him about it, because Coughlin can show you eye-popping statistics and a won-loss record at Washington & Jefferson College that is nearly perfect.

Anyone who has ventured to Cameron Stadium to catch Coughlin in action as the sophomore quarterback of the Presidents is as impressed by his accuracy as they are befuddled by his motion.

“I haven’t gone to any quarterback clinics,” Coughlin says.

No kidding?

The throwing motion of the right-hander resembles that of a shot putter in track. His arm is coiled up, then released almost on a straight trajectory.

That the football comes even close to its intended target is remarkable. But check out these numbers.

This season, Coughlin is completing 70 percent of his passes for 2,670 yards and 27 touchdowns. He’s been intercepted just four times in nearly 400 career pass attempts and he is going to be one big headache for Waynesburg University Saturday at Wiley Stadium.

That’s where Coughlin intends to pass the Presidents to a 10th consecutive victory in a Presidents’ Athletic Conference game. He is 11-1 as a starter and the one loss came against national power Mount Union in the first round of the NCAA Division III playoffs last year.

Coughlin, subbing for the injured Matt Bliss, completed 20 of 44 passes for 216 yards and three touchdowns.

Did we mention the snow?

It covered the field in Alliance that day and the wind whipped faster than a Nolan Ryan fastball. And Coughlin did not turn the ball over.

“He played really good against Mount Union,” said WJ head coach Mike Sirianni. “He was ready to play because he practiced so much (when Bliss was injured).”

Coughlin received a similar break while playing under Jim Render at Upper St. Clair High School. When Dakota Conwell went down with an injury, Coughlin stepped in.

“We had Dakota when Pete was a junior,” said Render. “Had we known how good Pete would play, we might have moved Dakota to running back. We played Pittsburgh Central Catholic, which at the time was the No. 5 team in the state, I think. Pete ran for 207 yards and threw a touchdown pass and we won the game (28-14). He went from unknown to well-known in one night.”

Impressive, considering Render was not quite sure what to do with Coughlin when he was a freshman.

“He pushed the ball rather than passed the ball,” Render said. “He couldn’t throw it far downfield. He had a lot of things to work on.”

Coughlin made some changes to his technique and the results were immediate.

“Coach Render was not sure I could play quarterback in high school with that type of throwing motion,” Coughlin said. “But I proved I could play that way.”

There are two advantages to Coughlin’s release. The football is nearly always close to his body so it’s rare that he fumbles, even when taking a hit from behind. Because the football is so close to his body, Coughlin can get into his running mode quicker. He rushed for 106 yards in the season-opener against Wooster, but because of his slight frame (5-9, 170), he chooses to slide or run out of bounds instead of taking a hit.

“He’s very intelligent in his ability to pass or run with the football,” Render said. “He’s always been accurate. We got him to raise his elbow and that allowed him to get into the throw. He can hit the seams and holes.”

Render believes Coughlin is in the right system for his abilities and praised Sirianni’s ability to match his offense to the strengths of his quarterback. Coughlin credits both coaches for his development.

“I think I’m improving on knowing the game better and the situations better,” said Coughlin. “I feel like I’m getting better with every game.”

That’s bad news for opponents.