EMORY, Va. – Emory & Henry College Vice President for Athletics Dr. Anne Crutchfield is pleased to announce that Will Hughes has joined the Department as Head Men's & Women's Swimming Coach. Hughes comes to E&H after leading the men's & women's swimming programs at the West Virginia University Institute of Technology.
During his time as head coach of the Golden Bears, Hughes vaulted both teams from sixth place in the Appalachian Athletic Conference to the league's runner-up position this past winter. He also led the WVU Tech men to back-to-back runner-up finishes (2021, 2022) in the West Virginia State Games, an early season invitational between college programs of all levels in the State of West Virginia.
"We are excited to welcome Will to the Emory & Henry family," said Crutchfield. "He has proven to be a successful leader and recruiter from his time at WVU Tech, and we look forward to him being a part of Emory & Henry's transition to Division II. His community-based mindset experience in Middle Appalachia makes him a terrific fit."
Hughes has coached five NAIA All-Americans including Paulo Ignacio, Jr., the 2020 NAIA Men's 100-Yard Breaststroke Champion, which was also honored as the 2020 NAIA National Championships Swim of the Meet. He also saw Manuel Laguna Gomez named the 2020 AAC Championships Men's Swimmer of the Meet. For his efforts, Hughes was chosen as the AAC Women's Swimming Coach of the Year in 2021-22.
"I'm really excited to have this opportunity to be part of this program and department," commented Hughes. "I see a lot of potential to add to this program, and that is what I am hoping to do. We will look to improve our standing in the SAC and work to get individuals to the NCAA Championships and eventually become a national-contending team."
Prior to his time on deck with WVU Tech, Hughes spent four seasons as an assistant coach for the men's basketball team. He also has two years of experience as a YMCA Head Swimming Coach and is a YMCA/USA Swimming Stroke & Turn Judge.
Before entering the world of college athletics, Hughes spent nearly 16 years in the aviation industry, working for industry leaders such as Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and Boeing as well as other companies in both the public and private sectors. He has also owned and served as chief instructor of Aikido of Southern West Virginia, where he taught martial arts disciplines of Aikido, Judo, Jujitsu, and Shorin-Ryu Karate.
Hughes is an honorably discharged veteran of the United States Navy, where he served as a Petty Officer Third Class aboard three aircraft carriers. He has served as the mayor of his hometown, Pax, West Virginia, since 2012 and has been a member of the Fayette County Board of Zoning Appeals.
Hughes graduated cum laude from WVU Tech in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and government and earned a Master of History Degree from Liberty University in 2018. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in history, also from Liberty.
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