PEDRO – Amy Hughes has accomplished a lot as a player at various levels.

Thursday, June 22, 2000

PEDRO – Amy Hughes has accomplished a lot as a player at various levels. Now, she’s looking to accomplish something as a coach.

Hughes will get a chance to accomplish something as a coach at the high school level after being named the Rock Hill Redwomen head basketball coach Tuesday night.

"Basketball has always been a part of my past and I thought it would be nice to give back what I’ve been given and to work with the girls and teaching them the game," said Hughes.

The basketball life of Hughes has been filled with accomplishments.

Hughes was a first team All-Ohio player for Wheelersburg. She was the Southeast District Division III Player of the Year and signed to play at national power Connecticut.

After two years, Hughes transferred to Xavier University in Cincinnati in order to be closer to home.

In her four years of college basketball, Hughes appeared in the NCAA Div. I Final Four with UConn and won two Atlantic 10 championships and made two more NCAA tournament appearances at Xavier.

"That was quite a great experience," said Hughes. "I think playing the game will help make me a better coach. I’ve had a well-rounded background. I’ve played and now I’m coaching, so I know what the players are going through and I’ll know how to handle it. I played my last game in March, so I’m not that far removed."

Landing the Rock Hill job just out of college was a pleasant surprise for Hughes. She didn’t expect a position of this caliber to be available this late in the summer.

"I didn’t know if I would stay in Cincinnati or come back (to this area). I didn’t know if there would be this opportunity, but I’m glad to get this chance," said Hughes.

Although Hughes is coming in somewhat late, she doesn’t expect anything less than continuing the Redwomen winning tradition.

"I don’t know hardly anything about the players, but I expect us to win, play hard, work hard at everything we do," said Hughes. "I’ve always heard the community and school system offer great support."

Not only the team’s personnel will be a problem at first, but Hughes knows there’s plenty of time to study the players and develop a system suitable to their talents.

"I’ll design my offense around my personnel. At this point, I don’t know my personnel, so we’ll have to get to know each other," Hughes said.

Hughes won’t be the only member of the family coaching a girls team this season. Her father, Mike Hughes, has returned to coaching and will take over at South Webster where Amy’s two youngest sisters play.

Mike Hughes had great success at South Point, Wheelersburg, and Green with the boys teams.

"He’s been huge influence on my life and basketball career, but he’s at South Webster so I won’t see him much. I’m sure he’ll give me advice when I ask," said Amy Hughes.