The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Demers Adds Lee Hughes to Coaching Staff
6/23/2017 10:34:00 AM | Women's Soccer
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – UAB women's soccer head coach Erica Demers announced Friday that Lee Hughes has joined her staff and will serve as an assistant coach.
Hughes arrives in Birmingham after working as an assistant coach at Indiana State last season, helping the Sycamores earn five All-Missouri Valley Conference accolades. In addition, Hughes helped place two Sycamores on the MVC All-Tournament Team.
"I am absolutely thrilled with the hiring of Lee Hughes," Demers said. "Lee is a phenomenal person and coach, and someone that I know will be extremely helpful to our current and future student-athletes here at UAB. Lee, although young in his collegiate coaching career, understands the game very well and always strives to help his players anyway he can. He is a very passionate coach who cares deeply about the team and all of his players. I am elated to be working with him again."
Demers and Hughes worked together at the University of Iowa in 2015, when Hughes worked as a volunteer assistant coach. While at Iowa, Hughes helped senior Hannah Clark lead the Big Ten in saves (105), saves per game (5.83) and tie for sixth in shutouts (six). Clark ended her career as the winningest goalkeeper in program history (36 victories) and was tops in the record books in career shutouts (26) and third in career saves (321).
The Hawkeyes earned the NSCAA Ethics and Sportsmanship Award and six student-athletes garnered Academic All-Big Ten recognition.
"I want to thank Erica and UAB for this great opportunity," Hughes said. "I'm really excited to work with Erica again and start this journey here at UAB. I can't wait to start getting to know and work with the great group of girls we have here. We have very high expectations for this program and its future, so it's a great time to be a part of UAB women's soccer."
Hughes played collegiately at Ashford University and graduated in 2015 with a bachelor of arts degree in sports management. While at Ashford, Hughes served as team captain and helped the Saints to the NAIA Final Four in 2013 and NAIA Sweet 16 in 2014. Hughes was also named an NAIA Academic All-American in 2014 and was selected as the Scholar Athlete of the Year as a senior.
Hughes was also the head coach of the Dewitt Rockets U12 boys' team in 2013 in the Eastern Iowa Soccer Association. In 2014 Hughes was a volunteer coach for the Iowa soccer club and assistant coach of Dewitt High School boys' soccer team.
Raised in Old Colwyn, Wales, Hughes holds his USSF C and D licenses, as well as level one and level two goalkeeping diplomas.
For more information on UAB women's soccer, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_WSOC), Instagram (@UAB_WSOC) and Snapchat (@UABAthletics).
Hughes arrives in Birmingham after working as an assistant coach at Indiana State last season, helping the Sycamores earn five All-Missouri Valley Conference accolades. In addition, Hughes helped place two Sycamores on the MVC All-Tournament Team.
"I am absolutely thrilled with the hiring of Lee Hughes," Demers said. "Lee is a phenomenal person and coach, and someone that I know will be extremely helpful to our current and future student-athletes here at UAB. Lee, although young in his collegiate coaching career, understands the game very well and always strives to help his players anyway he can. He is a very passionate coach who cares deeply about the team and all of his players. I am elated to be working with him again."
Demers and Hughes worked together at the University of Iowa in 2015, when Hughes worked as a volunteer assistant coach. While at Iowa, Hughes helped senior Hannah Clark lead the Big Ten in saves (105), saves per game (5.83) and tie for sixth in shutouts (six). Clark ended her career as the winningest goalkeeper in program history (36 victories) and was tops in the record books in career shutouts (26) and third in career saves (321).
The Hawkeyes earned the NSCAA Ethics and Sportsmanship Award and six student-athletes garnered Academic All-Big Ten recognition.
"I want to thank Erica and UAB for this great opportunity," Hughes said. "I'm really excited to work with Erica again and start this journey here at UAB. I can't wait to start getting to know and work with the great group of girls we have here. We have very high expectations for this program and its future, so it's a great time to be a part of UAB women's soccer."
Hughes played collegiately at Ashford University and graduated in 2015 with a bachelor of arts degree in sports management. While at Ashford, Hughes served as team captain and helped the Saints to the NAIA Final Four in 2013 and NAIA Sweet 16 in 2014. Hughes was also named an NAIA Academic All-American in 2014 and was selected as the Scholar Athlete of the Year as a senior.
Hughes was also the head coach of the Dewitt Rockets U12 boys' team in 2013 in the Eastern Iowa Soccer Association. In 2014 Hughes was a volunteer coach for the Iowa soccer club and assistant coach of Dewitt High School boys' soccer team.
Raised in Old Colwyn, Wales, Hughes holds his USSF C and D licenses, as well as level one and level two goalkeeping diplomas.
For more information on UAB women's soccer, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_WSOC), Instagram (@UAB_WSOC) and Snapchat (@UABAthletics).
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