Garrett McLaughlin is the special teams coordinator for the University at Buffalo football program in Buffalo, New York, and 2026 marks his first season in the role. A native of Orchard Park, he returned to Western New York after two seasons at Columbia, where he coached special teams and the defensive line. Columbia punters received All-Ivy League recognition in both of his seasons there, and he was part of the staff that earned Ivy League Coaching Staff of the Year honors and helped the Lions win their first league title since 1961 in his first season.
Before Columbia, McLaughlin spent three seasons at New Hampshire, including two as special teams coordinator. His units produced strong results, including a 2023 season in which the Wildcats led the nation in blocked punts and topped the CAA in both kickoff and punt return average. That same year, Dylan Laube was named CAA Special Teams Player of the Year, and in 2022 New Hampshire led the conference in kick return coverage while ranking among the national leaders in blocked punts. McLaughlin was recognized by Our Coaching Network as a 2022 Special Teams Coach on the Rise.
