University of Connecticut Athletics
Hughes Named Defensive Coordinator
1/22/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
STORRS, CT (January 21, 2002)-- Defensive line coach Hank Hughes has been promoted to the position of Defensive Coordinator, it was announced Monday by University of Connecticut head football coach Randy Edsall.
Hughes is entering his second year on the Husky staff, having joined the staff in February of 2001. He is a 22-year veteran of the coaching profession and will continue to be the UConn defensive line coach in addition to his duties as the defensive coordinator.
“Hank has been an excellent asset to our coaching staff,” said Edsall. “The defensive line performed at a high level this past season despite several injuries to starters early in the year. Under Hank, I think our defensive unit will continue to get better and the continuity on the staff will also be a positive for the program. Hank is a very good coach who I know will make the most of this opportunity.”
Before coming to Connecticut, Hughes was the defensive line coach at the University of Memphis from 1998-2000. The Tigers finished the 2000 season as the No. 1 rated defense in Division I-A against the run (72.7 rush yards allowed per game) and finished No. 5 in the nation in total defense (275.3 yards per game) and 14th in scoring defense (18.1 points allowed per game).
Hughes has also served coaching stints at Harvard (1994-97), where he was the Assistant Head Coach, defensive line coach and special teams coordinator. He was defensive line coach at the University of Cincinnati in 1993 and was the defensive coordinator for the Montreal Machine of the World League in 1991 and 1992. Hughes was the linebacker coach and recruiting coordinator at James Madison University from 1985-1990, served as linebackers coach at Lafayette College from 1982-84 and coached the defensive line at Northeastern University (1981), Springfield College (1980) and the University of Albany (1979).
Hughes was born on October 19, 1957 and is a 1979 graduate of Springfield College with a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education. He was a four-year letterwinner at linebacker.
He is a native of Albany, NY. Hank and his wife Jackie have three children, Raquel Marie, Henry and Jack.
