University of Wisconsin-Superior Athletics

Laughlin guided the Yellowjacket women's hockey team to heights never seen by the program, culminating with an appearance in the NCAA Division III Women's Ice Hockey Championships in 2008, where the team finished fourth. It was the second time the Yellowjackets qualified for the NCAA tournament, with the previous entry coming in 2006. Laughlin's teams have won three NCHA regular-season titles (2004, 2007 and 2008) and one NCHA playoff championship (2008).

In addition to team success, Laughlin's players have brought home individual accolades. Twelve players have been named All-American by the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA), and 41 players have been named all-conference.

Laughlin has been named Coach of the Year six times, four in the NCHA (2004, 2007, 2008 and 2012). In 2015 and 2018, he was named WIAC Women's Hockey Coach of the Year.

Laughlin's coaching career began as an assistant coach at Superior High School. From there, he cut his teeth in the junior ranks as an assistant coach with the Sioux City Musketeers of the United States Hockey League (USHL). Laughlin also spent time as a coach in the Madison Capitols AAA hockey organization. Laughlin has supplemented his coaching experience working at numerous camps, clinics and hockey schools since his retirement as a player.

After a junior hockey career with the USHL's Des Moines Buccaneers, Laughlin was a three-year standout defenseman with the Yellowjackets.  From 1989-92, he appeared in 85 games and was the team captain of the 1992 team that made the school's first-ever appearance in the NCAA Division III Men's Ice Hockey Championships. Following his Yellowjacket career, Laughlin played two years of professional hockey with the Madison Monsters of the disbanded Colonial Hockey League and the St. Petersburg Renegades of the now-defunct Southern Hockey League.  Laughlin also had a stint with the Minnesota Iron Rangers of the short-lived American Hockey Association.

Laughlin graduated from UW-Superior in 1994 with a Bachelor's Degree in communications. He furthered his education with a Master's Degree in mass communications, also from UW-Superior in 2011.

Laughlin and his wife Jill reside in Solon Springs, Wis.