Brian McLaughlin is delighted to be staying at Ravenhill |
Ulster coach Brian McLaughlin has extended his contract with the province for another season.
McLaughlin took a sabbatical from his teaching post with RBAI to take up the Ulster job in 2009, and he has now resigned his position at the school.
He has taken Ulster to the Heineken Cup quarter-finals are they are on course for a Magners League play-off spot.
“I’ve chosen to stay because of the confidence I have in the players and coaching staff,” said McLaughlin.
He added: “I’m absolutely delighted to be committing my coaching future to Ulster.
“I’ve said before that I feel there is something special about this Ulster squad, and had I opted to return to teaching at this stage, I would always have wondered what we could have been capable of.
“We have developed a good squad culture and an array of talent that will stand us in good stead in the next few years.
“Since I came on board two years ago we have always looked to compete with the best teams in Europe and we are def continuing to progressing in the right direction.”
The former Ards player guided RBAI to seven Ulster Schools’ Cup finals in a 12-year period.
McLaughlin was also successful at Ulster and Ireland age-group level and coached club sides Malone and Instonians before guiding Ballynahinch to a historic season in 2008-9, culminating in promotion to Division One of the All-Ireland League.
He was part of the successful Irish U21 coaching team that won two triple crowns in 1996 and 1998.
McLaughlin took up the role of specialist skills coach with Ireland in 2005, a position he held until April 2008, helping the team to win the Triple Crown in both 2006 and 2007.
