FREMONT, Neb. - After retiring in 2019, the winningest football coach at Wayne State College could not stay away from the game.
 
"My first call was to Dan," said Midland University Head Football Coach Jeff Jamrog.
 
After one year away, coach Dan McLaughlin is back on the field.
 

"He [Jamrog] gave me an opportunity and I took it," said McLaughlin. "I'm really glad I did because I really missed coaching and I missed being around the kids."

And just like that, a Wayne State coaching legend is now an assistant coach at Midland University.

"He said he missed three things," said Jamrog. "He missed the coaches, he missed the players, and he missed the grass."

Coach Jamrog said their relationship is a bond years in the making.

"I've known Dan McLaughlin probably since 1990," said Jamrog.

"We first met when he was at University of South Dakota in Vermillion and I was the head coach at Norfolk High School," said McLaughlin, who won state titles as a high school coach at Broken Bow, Norfolk and Millard West.

Jamrog and McLaughlin coached together at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Minnesota State University, but parted ways when McLaughlin went to WSC for his first and only college head coaching gig.

"We've always bounced ideas off each other," said Jamrog. "When he was at Wayne and just throughout his coaching career, we've just really had a great relationship. He's kind of like a big brother to me." 

Although they have have a great relationship off the field, how is the duo on the field?

"They've really enjoyed having him as a coach," said Jamrog. "He has so much knowledge. He's got some funny stories, some of his jokes are a little bit outdated."

"I think we're complimentary of each other," said McLaughlin. "We kind of play off each other and I've had other coaches say that about us."

The pair with an extensive history is looking forward to the future.

"I just turned 66 and so you don't coach forever, so eventually it will end, but as long as I'm having fun I'll keep doing it and I'm having a lot of fun now."

McLaughlin's two sons have also found success in coaching. His son Scott McLaughlin is going on his 15th year at Wayne State College as an assistant.

His older son Sean is the head track coach at Papillion La Vista South High School.