College - Muskingum
The winningest coach in San Antonio Silver Stars history, Dan Hughes returns for his seventh season in 2012. In his dual appointment as head coach and general manager, Hughes oversees the Silver Stars’ basketball staff, the team’s roster development and all player acquisitions, while also coaching the team. Hughes stepped aside as head coach to assume a full-time general manager role for the 2010 season and resumed his dual roles in 2011.

In 11 years as a head coach – of the Charlotte Sting, the Cleveland Rockers and San Antonio – Hughes has led his teams to eight playoff appearances, four Western Conference Finals and one WNBA Final. He has collected the third most wins in WNBA history and also is the winningest coach in the history of both the San Antonio and the Cleveland Rockers franchises.

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 Western Conference Championship and its first trip to the WNBA Finals. Additionally, Hughes has been named WNBA Coach of the Year – most recently in 2007 – or finished as runner-up four times.

A member of the five-person USA Basketball Selection Committee for the 2010 World Championships and the 2012 Olympics, Hughes is also serving as a member of the selection committee for the Kay Yow Award. He has also spent time working as a broadcaster on San Antonio Spurs telecasts, as well as on men’s and women’s college games.

Prior to joining the Silver Stars, Hughes spent a year as the Mid-American Conference (MAC) Assistant Commissioner for Men’s Basketball Operations. Before joining the MAC’s athletic office, he served as the head coach of the now-defunct Cleveland Rockers from 2000-03.

During his four-year stint with the 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 fewer than 40 points and five teams to their franchise low, including a WNBA record 34 points vs. Washington on May 31, 2001.

Hughes earned his first shot at coaching in the WNBA with the Charlotte Sting. While serving as an assistant coach during the 1999 season, Hughes took over as head coach midway through the season; he 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 a scout for the Charlotte Hornets during the offseason.

Many of Hughes’ former players and assistant coaches have gone on to become coaches both at the college level and within the WNBA. Hughes’ former athletes who went on to become Division I coaches are: Suzie McConnell-Serio (Duquesne); Dawn Staley (South Carolina); Jennifer Rizzotti Sullivan (Hartford); and Tricia Bader Binford (Montana State). Four of Hughes’ former assistants have become WNBA Head Coaches: T.R. Dunn (Charlotte); Brian Agler (Seattle); Cheryl Reeve (Minnesota); and Suzie McConnell-Serio (formerly Minnesota).

A native of Lowell, Ohio, Hughes has been involved in coaching basketball at almost every level in the Buckeye State. Prior to joining the Sting, 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 graduated with a degree in physical education and history from Muskingum College in New Concord, Ohio, in 1977. He earned a Master’s Degree in education from Miami University of Ohio in 1978.

Hughes and his wife, Mary, have two children, Bryce and Sara, who coaches high school volleyball and basketball.