Dan Hughes

Coach Dan Hughes
WNBA's San Antonio Silver Stars
Born	April 14, 1955 (1955-04-14) (age 56) Lowell, Ohio
Nationality	American
College	Muskingum
WNBA career	2000–present
Regular season	178–188 (.486)
Postseason	14–19 (.424)
Profile	WNBA Info Page
WNBA Head Coach of
Charlotte Sting (1999) Cleveland Rockers (2000–2003) San Antonio Silver Stars (2005–2009, 2011-)
WNBA Assistant Coach of
Charlotte Sting (1999)
Awards and Honors
WNBA Coach of the Year (2001, 2007)

Dan Hughes is an American basketball head coach, most recently of the San Antonio Silver Stars of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA).

Career

Hughes graduated with a degree in physical education and history from Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio, in 1977. He received a master's in education from Miami University of Ohio in 1978. Dan Hughes is is renowned for his abnormally round head, although it is not perfectly spherical, it more resembles a grape or coffee bean.

A native of Lowell, Ohio, Hughes has been involved in coaching basketball at almost every level in the Buckeye State. He served as the assistant coach with the University of Toledo's women's basketball program (1996–97) and men's basketball program (1991–96). During his tenure with the Rockets' women's team, they posted a 27–4 record, winning the MAC Championship, and made an NCAA Tournament appearance. He also served assistant coaching stints with the men's teams at Mount Union College (1982–84) and (1985–91) and Baldwin-Wallace College (1984–85). During the 1977–78 season, Hughes served as a graduate assistant at Miami of Ohio, helping the team to a MAC Championship and an appearance in the NCAA Regionals.

Hughes got his first shot at coaching in the WNBA with the now defunct Charlotte Sting. While serving as an assistant coach during the 1999 season, Hughes took over as head coach midway through the season and helped the Sting improve their standing in the Eastern Conference from fourth to second place, posting a 10–10 record. He led the team to its third consecutive playoff appearance and its first ever playoff series victory. In addition to his coaching responsibilities in Charlotte, Hughes was also a scout for the Charlotte Hornets during the WNBA's offseason.

During his four-year stint with the Cleveland Rockers, Hughes posted a 66–64 record with three trips to the playoffs. His overall record with the Rockers made him the winningest coach in franchise history. In his first season in Cleveland, Hughes directed the team's resurgence from a 7–25 season in 1999 to a 17–15 finish in 2000 and was voted WNBA Coach of the Year runner-up. The following year Hughes was named 2001 WNBA Coach of the Year after leading the Rockers to a 22–10 record and to their second straight playoff appearance. The 2001 Rockers were one of the best defensive teams ever, posting defensive statistics that still rank amongst the best in the WNBA record books. Cleveland led the league in three defensive categories during the 2001 season, including opponents' points per game (55.9 ppg, first in league history), opponents' field goal percentage (.381, second in league history) and opponents' total rebounds (27.84 rpg). The Rockers finished second in point differential (+6.8 ppg) and opponents' defensive rebounds (18.56 drpg). Hughes' Rockers kept 11 teams to 50 points or less, three teams to under 40 points and five teams to their franchise low, including a WNBA record 34 points vs. Washington on May 31, 2001.

Currently, Hughes serves as the head coach and general manager of the San Antonio Silver Stars. In his dual roles, Hughes oversees the Silver Stars' basketball staff, the team's roster development and all player acquisitions, while also coaching the team.

The 2007 WNBA Coach of the Year, Hughes is the only coach in WNBA history to take three different franchises to the playoffs. He guided the 2008 Silver Stars to a 24–10 mark, earning the best record in the league and the franchise's first trip to the WNBA Finals. In eight full seasons as a WNBA head coach, Hughes has been named Coach of the Year or finished as runner-up four times.

References

• Dan Hughes Biography from WNBA.com

Persondata
Name	Hughes, Dan
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	April 14, 1955
Place of birth	Lowell, Ohio
Date of death
Place of death