A first-ever playoff berth for Wayne State football capped a school record season for the Wildcats.

In four years at Wayne State, coach Dan McLaughlin has posted records of 4-7, 5-6, 7-5 and last year, 9-3.

McLaughlin, the Journal Star State College Coach of the Year, seems to have the Wildcats on a roll.

He was named the Division II Region 5 coach of the year - a first for Wayne State. In 2007, McLaughlin was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference coach of the year when the Wildcats posted their first winning season in 12 years.

The Journal Star High School Boys Coach of the Year in 1988, McLaughlin won high school championships at Broken Bow (1987), Norfolk (1994) and Millard West (2001).