University of Minnesota Athletics
Alumni Spotlight: Jennie (Moe) Coughlin
4/16/2020 3:15:00 PM | Tennis
Jennie (Moe) Coughlin graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1992. Playing under Martin Novak, she became one of the most successful women's tennis players to wear Maroon & Gold. To Coughlin, Minnesota represents more than just a place where she excelled in her tennis career. With family roots tied to the grounds, it has become a special place for her and the entire Coughlin family. From looking back at memories with her team to visiting her favorite Dinkytown spots, Gopher Sports decided to catch up with Coughlin and her life today.
Gopher Sports: You graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1992. Can you catch us up with what we have missed in the last 28 years?
Jennie (Moe) Coughlin: Oh my! That makes me sound really old! 28 years?! How can that be!! Well, I got married in 1993 to the love of my life, Bob Coughlin, whom I met through Athletes In Action (a campus ministry for Christian athletes). He was playing football on the team while I was playing tennis. Right out of college, I worked for a local PR agency for a few years and then got the itch to get back to tennis. I had the privilege of working for three years as the University of Minnesota women's tennis assistant coach alongside my former coach Martin Novak, and I absolutely loved it! Coaching was a blast!
I would have continued coaching but we started having children...and we had them fast! We had three kids in less than three years and then adopted two more from Haiti. We had five kids born within seven years of each other, which meant life got really busy! I have had the privilege of staying home as a mom to raise our crew, and I've loved it! For the past 12 years, I have also spent a great deal of time teaching the Bible to women at our church, and for the last three years I've served as the Teaching Leader of BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) in Eden Prairie. My faith in Christ began to really grow in college through AIA (Athletes In Action) and it's the most important part of my life today.
Currently, my kids are at these stages in life:
Carter - graduated in December from the University of Minnesota
Quinn - junior at the University of Minnesota
Kaiden - sophomore at Iowa State
Cullen - senior in high school, attending Grand Canyon University in the fall
Callie - sophomore in high school
GS: You played for the Gophers from 1989 to 1992, what were some of your favorite moments while at Minnesota?
JMC: The friendships that were developed through all of our experiences as teammates were what mattered most. Whether we were cheering each other on from the sidelines, battling together as doubles partners, enduring injuries together in the training room, or suffering together through 6am conditioning workouts, it's doing it all TOGETHER that made great memories. And, of course, memories from traveling to away matches - chats on the plane, breakfast at Denny's, dinner at Olive Garden, or watching the latest episode of Friends in a hotel room.
GS: What was your favorite spot to hangout at on campus as a student? When you come back and visit, what is your favorite place to hangout on campus now?
JMC: I always loved going to Annie's or Shuang Cheng in Dinkytown. Coffee shops were not a thing back in my day. I studied at Walter library - not exactly a "hang out place!" Today the campus is full of great spots to hangout - Starbucks, Purple Onion, Black Coffee & Waffle House, etc. I'm always telling my boys (two of our kids are Gophers) that they have the best campus! There are so many great spots! Today, my husband and I still love to go to Shuang Cheng - best Vietnamese food in town, for sure! And I can't pass up a visit to Insomnia Cookies!
GS: During your time playing for Minnesota you picked up quite a few awards and records. Including All-Big Ten singles and doubles, Big Ten Athlete of the Month, Team MVP, Most Improved, 11th all time for singles wins in a season, fourth all time for singles victories in a career and fifth all time for doubles in a career. How does it feel to have left such a big mark in the Gopher women's tennis history books?
JMC: I am humbled by the honors but if I'm really honest, the awards don't mean much to me. They weren't my goals or what I strived after. What matters most to me today is how God used the experiences of being a student-athlete to shape me into the woman, wife, and mom I am today.
GS: Out of all of the accolades you have received, are there any that you are most proud of?
JMC: What I value most today is WHO I was, not WHAT I did. Was I a supportive and encouraging teammate? Did I lead the team well in how hard I worked and how I lived my life? Did I honor God who gave me the ability and opportunity to play? Those are the things that are most important to me.
GS: When Baseline first opened, you were at the opening ceremony. What was it like seeing Baseline Tennis Center for the first time?
JMC: That was fantastic! It had been a huge hope of mine to have the opportunity to play in an on-campus facility, but I never got the chance. When Baseline Tennis Center was built, it was an absolute game-changer for the tennis program. We used to drive 30-45 minutes to practice every day. We never could get in extra hitting before or after class, or spend time working privately with our coach. We didn't have a place to gather and hang out as a team. The Baseline Tennis Center offered all of that, and much more! I'm so happy for the players today - I just hope they appreciate the gift they have!
GS: During your four years, you played under Martin Novak, one of the most successful coaches for the Gophers. What was it like having him as a coach? How did help you become successful?
JMC: I love Coach Novak! He brought out the best in me. He taught me how to think on the court, how to strategically break down my opponent by outworking her and being willing to run down the ball one more time than her. He loved to talk philosophy and I enjoyed engaging in deep conversations like that. I have a great deal of respect for Coach.
GS: What impact did the Gopher women's tennis program have on you as an athlete and a person?
JMC: As an athlete, and specifically in an individual sport like tennis, I learned what it means to be part of something bigger than myself, what a privilege it is to be part of a team and to play for my home state. Athletes playing at a Division I level deal with an amazing amount of pressure, time constraints, physical and emotional challenges that push us to our limits. We learn how to deal with adversity and how to overcome, how to set goals and discipline ourselves to reach those goals. We train and compete when we might not want to, might not feel well, or might be struggling through other challenges in our life. In other words, we learn life skills -- so being a Gopher tennis player has impacted me as a person in dramatic ways. God has used what I experienced as an athlete at the "U" to shape me into the person I am today.
GS: Are you still involved with tennis today?
JMC: Honestly, no...I still love the sport but my life is full and it is not a priority today. But I often say that some day, when all my kids are out of the house, I will get back to the court and play.
GS: Your son, Carter Coughlin, had a very successful career playing for the Gopher football team and is now preparing for the 2020 NFL Draft. What was it like coming back to campus and being able to watch him play at your alma mater?
JMC: It's the best! It was an absolute joy watching him wear Maroon & Gold while cheering on him and his teammates. He had an amazing experience and is so proud to have been a Gopher. I think my appreciation for the 'U' grew even deeper as I watched Carter go through his experience there.
GS: Lastly, what makes the University of Minnesota so special?
JMC: It's a beautiful campus located in the middle of Minneapolis and St. Paul right alongside the river with several city lakes nearby. It's the only Division I school in the state, which makes it unique and draws a great crowd of longtime Gopher fans. It's got a great history and a great reputation of excellence in academics and athletics. And personally, it's been a special part of my family - I met my husband there while he was playing football, my dad who played both football, baseball and then was the interim Athletics Director for three years. My older brother Mike played football there, two of our sons, Carter and Quinn both played football there, and now we have a nephew, Cole Kramer, who is playing football on the team. Yes, the University of Minnesota is quite special to our whole family! We are grateful for the privilege of being Gophers!
Gopher Sports: You graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1992. Can you catch us up with what we have missed in the last 28 years?
Jennie (Moe) Coughlin: Oh my! That makes me sound really old! 28 years?! How can that be!! Well, I got married in 1993 to the love of my life, Bob Coughlin, whom I met through Athletes In Action (a campus ministry for Christian athletes). He was playing football on the team while I was playing tennis. Right out of college, I worked for a local PR agency for a few years and then got the itch to get back to tennis. I had the privilege of working for three years as the University of Minnesota women's tennis assistant coach alongside my former coach Martin Novak, and I absolutely loved it! Coaching was a blast!
I would have continued coaching but we started having children...and we had them fast! We had three kids in less than three years and then adopted two more from Haiti. We had five kids born within seven years of each other, which meant life got really busy! I have had the privilege of staying home as a mom to raise our crew, and I've loved it! For the past 12 years, I have also spent a great deal of time teaching the Bible to women at our church, and for the last three years I've served as the Teaching Leader of BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) in Eden Prairie. My faith in Christ began to really grow in college through AIA (Athletes In Action) and it's the most important part of my life today.
Currently, my kids are at these stages in life:
Carter - graduated in December from the University of Minnesota
Quinn - junior at the University of Minnesota
Kaiden - sophomore at Iowa State
Cullen - senior in high school, attending Grand Canyon University in the fall
Callie - sophomore in high school
GS: You played for the Gophers from 1989 to 1992, what were some of your favorite moments while at Minnesota?
JMC: The friendships that were developed through all of our experiences as teammates were what mattered most. Whether we were cheering each other on from the sidelines, battling together as doubles partners, enduring injuries together in the training room, or suffering together through 6am conditioning workouts, it's doing it all TOGETHER that made great memories. And, of course, memories from traveling to away matches - chats on the plane, breakfast at Denny's, dinner at Olive Garden, or watching the latest episode of Friends in a hotel room.
GS: What was your favorite spot to hangout at on campus as a student? When you come back and visit, what is your favorite place to hangout on campus now?
JMC: I always loved going to Annie's or Shuang Cheng in Dinkytown. Coffee shops were not a thing back in my day. I studied at Walter library - not exactly a "hang out place!" Today the campus is full of great spots to hangout - Starbucks, Purple Onion, Black Coffee & Waffle House, etc. I'm always telling my boys (two of our kids are Gophers) that they have the best campus! There are so many great spots! Today, my husband and I still love to go to Shuang Cheng - best Vietnamese food in town, for sure! And I can't pass up a visit to Insomnia Cookies!
GS: During your time playing for Minnesota you picked up quite a few awards and records. Including All-Big Ten singles and doubles, Big Ten Athlete of the Month, Team MVP, Most Improved, 11th all time for singles wins in a season, fourth all time for singles victories in a career and fifth all time for doubles in a career. How does it feel to have left such a big mark in the Gopher women's tennis history books?
JMC: I am humbled by the honors but if I'm really honest, the awards don't mean much to me. They weren't my goals or what I strived after. What matters most to me today is how God used the experiences of being a student-athlete to shape me into the woman, wife, and mom I am today.
GS: Out of all of the accolades you have received, are there any that you are most proud of?
JMC: What I value most today is WHO I was, not WHAT I did. Was I a supportive and encouraging teammate? Did I lead the team well in how hard I worked and how I lived my life? Did I honor God who gave me the ability and opportunity to play? Those are the things that are most important to me.
GS: When Baseline first opened, you were at the opening ceremony. What was it like seeing Baseline Tennis Center for the first time?
JMC: That was fantastic! It had been a huge hope of mine to have the opportunity to play in an on-campus facility, but I never got the chance. When Baseline Tennis Center was built, it was an absolute game-changer for the tennis program. We used to drive 30-45 minutes to practice every day. We never could get in extra hitting before or after class, or spend time working privately with our coach. We didn't have a place to gather and hang out as a team. The Baseline Tennis Center offered all of that, and much more! I'm so happy for the players today - I just hope they appreciate the gift they have!
GS: During your four years, you played under Martin Novak, one of the most successful coaches for the Gophers. What was it like having him as a coach? How did help you become successful?
JMC: I love Coach Novak! He brought out the best in me. He taught me how to think on the court, how to strategically break down my opponent by outworking her and being willing to run down the ball one more time than her. He loved to talk philosophy and I enjoyed engaging in deep conversations like that. I have a great deal of respect for Coach.
GS: What impact did the Gopher women's tennis program have on you as an athlete and a person?
JMC: As an athlete, and specifically in an individual sport like tennis, I learned what it means to be part of something bigger than myself, what a privilege it is to be part of a team and to play for my home state. Athletes playing at a Division I level deal with an amazing amount of pressure, time constraints, physical and emotional challenges that push us to our limits. We learn how to deal with adversity and how to overcome, how to set goals and discipline ourselves to reach those goals. We train and compete when we might not want to, might not feel well, or might be struggling through other challenges in our life. In other words, we learn life skills -- so being a Gopher tennis player has impacted me as a person in dramatic ways. God has used what I experienced as an athlete at the "U" to shape me into the person I am today.
GS: Are you still involved with tennis today?
JMC: Honestly, no...I still love the sport but my life is full and it is not a priority today. But I often say that some day, when all my kids are out of the house, I will get back to the court and play.
GS: Your son, Carter Coughlin, had a very successful career playing for the Gopher football team and is now preparing for the 2020 NFL Draft. What was it like coming back to campus and being able to watch him play at your alma mater?
JMC: It's the best! It was an absolute joy watching him wear Maroon & Gold while cheering on him and his teammates. He had an amazing experience and is so proud to have been a Gopher. I think my appreciation for the 'U' grew even deeper as I watched Carter go through his experience there.
GS: Lastly, what makes the University of Minnesota so special?
JMC: It's a beautiful campus located in the middle of Minneapolis and St. Paul right alongside the river with several city lakes nearby. It's the only Division I school in the state, which makes it unique and draws a great crowd of longtime Gopher fans. It's got a great history and a great reputation of excellence in academics and athletics. And personally, it's been a special part of my family - I met my husband there while he was playing football, my dad who played both football, baseball and then was the interim Athletics Director for three years. My older brother Mike played football there, two of our sons, Carter and Quinn both played football there, and now we have a nephew, Cole Kramer, who is playing football on the team. Yes, the University of Minnesota is quite special to our whole family! We are grateful for the privilege of being Gophers!
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