A graduate in the top 10 percent of his class from Chicago Dunbar, Mac McLaughlin earned varsity letters in football, wrestling, baseball and track. He was a state qualifier in wrestling his senior year. Before graduating from North Central College in Naperville in 1964, Mac won varsity letters in football, wrestling and baseball. He was named to the North Central College All-Century Football team in 1998 as a defensive back. He was also inducted into North Central's Hall of Fame. Mac went on to play one year of professional football in the Canadian Football League with the Saskatchewan Rough Riders. In 1966 Mac began his teaching and coaching career at Joliet Central High School. He earned the name "Coach Mac" as physical education instructor, dean and coach. He has coached both male and female sports as a head coach or an assistant coach during his 43 years in education. He was the head football coach for Joliet Central from 1986-1988 and the head badminton coach for Joliet Central for the 1976 season. In 2000, he served as an assistant coach for Joliet Central's State Championship softball team. Coach Mac served as the head wrestling coach at Joliet Central from 1970 to 2010. During his tenure as head coach for Joliet Central and Joliet Township, Mac claimed over 500 dual meet wins (507-192-9), six Conference Championships, a Dual Team State Championship (1985), five additional top-10 state finishes, seven individual state champions, eight individual state finalist runners-up, 34 total individual state place winners and 108 state qualifiers. He was inducted into the IWCOA Hall of Fame in 1991. Mac has also worked as a state tournament bench official since 1996. He was named IWCOA Coach of the Year in 1985 and in 2004, he was selected to serve as Grand Marshal at the IHSA Individual State Championships.