The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Soccer
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
On Aug. 4, 2021, Texas head coach Angela Kelly announced that former UAB assistant coach Lee Hughes would be heading to the Forty Acres as an assistant coach on her staff.
In his first season with the Longhorns, Hughes helped lead the Burnt Orange & White to an 11-5-6 overall record, runner-up finishes in both the Big 12 regular-season standings and tournament and to the program's 15th NCAA Tournament berth. Overall, the program ranked second in the league in scoring, had six players earn All-Big 12 honors, four receive United Soccer Coaches All-Midwest Region accolades and midfielder Julia Grosso nab her second career United Soccer Coaches All-American award.
A native of Old Colwyn, Wales, Hughes spent four seasons (2017-20) helping head coach Erica Demers improve UAB from a four-win team, in the year prior to their arrival in 2016, to 34 victories over a four-year span, including 13 wins during a standout 2017 campaign.
Hughes was instrumental in revamping the Blazers’ offensive unit to more than double its goal-scoring production (18 goals in 2016 to 39 goals in 2017) while also helping UAB rate in the top five in the nation for program turnaround. Two of his charges earned 2017 All-Conference USA First Team accolades as midfielder Amy Brewer ranked among the league leaders in points (25), goals (10) and assists (five), while midfielder Rachel Green tallied 17 points on seven goals and three helpers.
In 2018, he helped develop Kamilah Mustafa into one of the league’s top scorers with eight goals. Five of her tallies were match-winners to lead Conference USA and rate 18th in NCAA Division I.
He also helped the Blazers defense become one of the stingiest units in the league as the program tied for first in Conference USA in fewest goals allowed in 2017, 2018 & 2019. His 2019 group boasted two All-Conference USA performers as defender Audria Wood and goalkeeper Eve Beyer were tabbed to the third team, while Beyer also secured all-rookie honors.
Prior to his time at UAB, Hughes worked as an assistant coach at Indiana State (2016-17) and as a volunteer assistant coach with Demers at Iowa (2015-16).
During his assistant coaching stint with the Sycamores, five players earned All-Missouri Valley Conference accolades, while two more were named to the MVC All-Tournament Team.
Collegiately, Hughes played at Ashford University, graduating in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sports management. During his playing career, he served as a team captain while helping guide the Saints to the 2013 NAIA Final Four and the 2014 NAIA Sweet 16. A standout in the classroom, he was named both a 2014 NAIA Academic All-American as well as the Scholar Athlete of the Year. While in Wales, Hughes played for Llandudno FC and Conwy United of the Cymru Alliance.
Hughes earned a master’s in coaching from Indiana State (2017) and a master’s degree in kinesiology from UAB (2019). He continues to serve as a lead coach for a Region 3 ODP Girls Team, holds a USSF “B” license and both level one and two NSCAA goalkeeping diplomas. He also owns a one-year mentorship diploma from the world football academy and a “Fit for 90” level 1 diploma.
