JOHN HUGHES

POSITION: OFFENSIVE LINE COACH

EMAIL: johnhughes@isu.edu

COLLEGE: Humboldt State University (2012), University of Akron (2016)

PRIMARY RECRUITING AREAS: Southern Utah (Draper to AZ), Inland Empire California

AT A GLANCE:

• Began his playing career at Western Washington before finishing at Humboldt State as a three-year starter on the offensive line earning All-Conference honors his junior and senior season
• Maintained a 4.0 GPA while obtaining his Master Degree at Akron while also helping the Zips attain #1 run defense in MAC and #3 in the nation against the run
• 2014 selection for the NCAA Future Football Coaches Academy
• Experience coaching on both sides of the ball with years of recruiting the Inland Empire
• Elevated to Co-Offensive Coordinator at Utah Tech only surrendering six sacks while coaching an offensive line that averaged 4.8 yards per carry

CAREER BACKGROUND:

Season                Team/School                                  Position/Title  

2012-13            Humboldt State                        Tight Ends Coach

2013-15            Sacramento State                    Assistant Defensive Line

2015-16            Akron University                       Graduate Assistant Linebackers

2016-18            University of Colorado             Graduate Assistant Offensive Line

2018                 Western Colorado                    Offensive Line Coach

2019-22            Utah Tech University                Offensive Line/Run Game Coordinator

2023                 Utah Tech                                 Co-Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line

COACH HUGHES:

A technician rooted in offensive line fundamentals, John Hughes joined the Bengals in December of 2023.

Following his playing career at Humboldt State, he immediately joined the staff as a Tight Ends Coach. He then switched sides of the ball, working as Defensive Line assistant in the Big Sky Conference at Sacramento State for two seasons before moving onto the Akron Zips. With Akron he helped a staunch defense win the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

A Power Five opportunity came next as Coach Hughes settled into his forte of offensive line play. With the Colorado Buffaloes, he helped the team achieve the most wins since 2001 while assisting in recruiting offensive lineman across the country. His first full-time assignment was with Western Colorado where he orchestrated run game and pass protection drill work along with working on game preparation specializing in opponent front 7 with focus on stunts and pressures.

In 2019, he joined Dixie State (now Utah Tech) helping mentor three all-conference players in the RMAC and when Utah Tech moved to the WAC he helped another player obtain all-conference honors. His 2019 offensive line paved the way for the Trailblazer’s career rushing touchdown leader and helped set a single-season record of 31 touchdowns. In Utah Tech inaugural FCS season in 2021, the offensive line protection only allowed six sacks in 194 pass attempts and opened up the ground game averaging 122.4 rushing yards to complement a Blazers offense that averaged 420.8 offensive yards per game. He added Co-Offensive Coordinator responsibilities in his final season with Utah Tech.

Born in Redlands, California he competed as both a wrestler and on the gridiron at Redlands High School. A noted California recruiter, he has experience in Orange County, the Inland Empire, and the vaunted California Junior Colleges. He is married to his wife Kercia and they have three children.