The star Southern United striker has joined Christchurch's Cashmere Technical for the winter football season.
He will not be lost to the South entirely, continuing to work for Football South and intending to play for Southern next summer.
To make that happen he will work Monday to Thursday in Dunedin, then drive to Christchurch to train on Thursday night.
He will work from Christchurch on Friday, play Saturday and then return home to do it all again.
It is a big effort, particularly when there are plenty of clubs on his doorstep.
However, football was not the only reason to head north - his partner lives in Christchurch.
Despite that, he was still planning to wear blue, rather than red and black, over summer.
Coach Paul O'Reilly was a big reason for that.
While a brilliant national premiership may leave the Irishman in high demand, he was not shopping around too much.
''No, not really, to be honest. I'm happy enough where I am,'' he said when asked if he had looked at other teams.
''I think the major reason to play for Cashmere was my girlfriend, just getting me closer to her.
''But obviously I've outlined to her for the summer season if it means for her to travel here again, then that's what it's going to have to be.
''She's open to that, which is the most important thing, so it looks likely.''
Coughlan debuted for Cashmere last Saturday in a 5-0 win over FC Twenty 11.
He said his time at the club so far had been ''excellent''.
Having as the visiting team to Cashmere in last year's South Island league with Dunedin Technical, he had seen the set-up then.
''It's a great group. The training ground, the coaching the set-up, the whole lot is excellent.
''As far as clubs go it's definitely one of the best in Christchurch, even the South Island. Just what they have, their training ground, their facilities, everything is top notch.''
It also gave him the opportunity to train and play against Canterbury United players, which he was enjoying.
