Served as the Head Coach for 21 years at Mt Spokane High School.  He took over a team in 1999 that had just one dual match victory prior to his arrival. 

 

Previously he served as the head coach at Wapato High School and as an assistant at Mt. Spokane, Red River High School in North Dakota, and University High School. 

 

He has coached 60 state placers, 10 state champions and his team finished in the top eight at state the last eight years including back to back to back state championship teams in 2018, 2019 and 2020. His team was ranked first in 2021 but the State Tournament did not happen due to Covid.

 

During his reign, there were sixteen times when a Wildcat wrestler was named Academic State Champion. In 2014 the Mt Spokane Wrestling Team was the 3A Academic State Champion. 

 

Sixteen former Wildcat wrestlers went on to compete at the collegiate level since his arrival at Mt. Spokane along with one professional fighter in the MMA. 

 

He was named GSL Coach of the year multiple times and Washington State Wrestling Coaches Association and NWCA of the year in 2019.  

 

Coach Hughes has a passion for the sport of wrestling, but more importantly, a desire to graduate quality and productive young men who will diligently serve their families and communities.