In Dublin's John Coghlan, Villanova will face son of Wildcats running legend at Millrose Games

John Coghlan was only 10 years old when he decided to put away his soccer ball and take up running in his native Ireland. As he got better at it, he turned to his father for help and guidance, but the older man didn't exactly react with rampant enthusiasm.

You see, John's father is Eamonn Coghlan, one of the greatest runners in Villanova history. A four-time world-record holder in the indoor mile, he became known as the "Chairman of the Boards" for his seven victories in the Wanamaker Mile at the prestigious Millrose Games.

"I didn't want to re-live my life through him," the elder Coghlan said of his son. "I was very, very careful with him, protecting him through his teen-aged years. I just made sure I would get him through those years and if he enjoyed it - and if he wanted to do it for himself - I'd get him ready."

Now 23, the youngest of four children, John Coghlan is ready to follow his dad's route to track prominence. He takes a big step Saturday night when, with his father in the audience, he will anchor the distance medley relay for Dublin City University at the 105th Millrose Games.

The meet, which saw a 98-year run at Madison Square Garden end last year because of declining attendance and sponsorships, hopes to rejuvenate itself this year at the Armory in uptown Manhattan with a cast of contestants that includes many Olympians.

The pressure of having the same last name as one of the best milers ever hasn't seemed to faze Coghlan. He steadily has improved throughout his career, reaching a highlight Jan. 28 when he broke four minutes in the mile for the first time with a clocking of 3 minutes, 59.32 seconds at the Terrier Invitational in Boston.

In fact, it took a while for Coghlan to fully grasp what his father achieved in track. Eamonn Coghlan's last Wanamaker Mile win in 1987, and final Olympic appearance for Ireland in 1988, happened before John was born. When Coghlan became the first runner over 40 to run a sub-four minute mile (3:58.15) in 1994, John was just 5 years old.

Eamonn Coghlan, 59, who graduated from Villanova in 1976, is the only coach his son has ever had, and he calls John "the most level-headed kid I've ever come across in my life."

"John is a very private, very quiet kid," Eamonn Coghlan said. "He didn't get into the fuss of his old man and what I did, and didn't get into the fuss having people comparing his running to what the old man did."