Jen Hughes
2022 was Jen Hughes's 19th season at the helm of the Amherst College women's soccer program which has become one of the premiere teams in NCAA Division III. Since taking the reins in 2004, Hughes has led Amherst to a 227-64-35 overall record, four NESCAC titles, and 13 NCAA Division III Tournament appearances. She is the all-time winningest coach in program history, surpassing legend Michelle Morgan with her 208th win on Oct. 30th, 2021.
Hughes, along with assistants Su DelGuercio and Jeff Huffman, were named the United Soccer Coaches Region I Coaching Staff of the Year in 2022.
In 2015, Hughes directed the Purple & White to a 11-3-3 overall record with a 6-2-2 ledger in NESCAC action en route to securing the team's 16th consecutive conference postseason berth. The Purple & White also earned its fifth straight NCAA postseason appearance and 15th overall following the 11-win campaign.
During her time in Western Massachusetts, Hughes has led Amherst to several outstanding seasons, but the 2011 campaign was one of the best in program history. The Purple & White set several team records while winning their first 20 games, notably claiming the NESCAC title before cruising through the first three rounds of the NCAA tournament. Amherst finished its incredible season at 20-1-0 after falling to eventual champion Messiah in the quarterfinals, with Hughes getting recognized as the NESCAC and NSCAA New England Coach of the Year.
A 1997 graduate of Colgate University, Hughes spent two seasons as an assistant coach at her alma mater before earning master's degrees in both business administration and sport management at UMass-Amherst. She was one of the best women's soccer players in Colgate history, leading the Division I Red Raiders to three consecutive Patriot League Championships and earning countless individual honors. Graduating as Colgate's all-time leader in goals (40), assists (26) and points (106), Hughes was a 1997 NCAA Woman of the Year nominee and a winner of the ECAC Merit Medal for excellence in academics and athletics.
Following her senior season, Hughes was selected to play on the Region 1 team at the 1998 U.S. National Soccer Festival and earned a spot on the W-League team for the New York Magic of the United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues (USISL). She went on to play professionally for Tyreso FF of the Damallsvenskan Futbol League in Stockholm, Sweden, and was one of 250 players world wide invited to the inaugural Women's United Soccer Association (WUSA) combine and player draft. Hughes is one of only two players in Colgate women's soccer history to have her jersey number retired.