BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb and Head Men’s Soccer Coach Tony Setzer announced Thursday the hiring of Kyle Hughes as Assistant Coach of the Runnin’ Bulldogs.
Hughes joins Gardner-Webb after most recently serving as Associate Head Coach of the men’s soccer program at Mars Hill University, a member of the South Atlantic Conference (Division II) where he spent two strong seasons helping lead the Lions as Associate Head Coach.
“First, I would like to thank Coach Tony Setzer and Gardner-Webb Vice President of Athletics Chuck Burch for the opportunity to join the staff of the GWU men’s soccer program,” said Hughes. “With my experience as a former head coach and associate head coach, I look forward to helping guide this Runnin’ Bulldogs’ program to a bright future in the Big South Conference and Division I men’s soccer as a whole.”
Over two seasons, Hughes helped lead Mars Hill to a combined 14-9-5 record with two postseason SAC tournament appearances, highlighted by an 11-6-3 campaign and a trip to the conference championship game in 2021.
A major factor in player development for some of the league’s brightest talent, Hughes also significantly contributed to the success of forwards Kevonte Willoughby-Williams and Peter Plougmand, a Lions duo that combined for 20 goals and 12 assists last season en route to Willoughby-Williams earning SAC Freshman of the Year and both players receiving All-SAC Second Team honors.
“Coach Hughes is a phenomenal coaching talent that we are lucky to add to our staff,” said Setzer. “I have watched and respected his success for many years, and we are thrilled to have him with us to help further take our student-athletes to the next level.”
Prior to his stint at Mars Hill, Hughes spent five seasons at Spartanburg Methodist College where he compiled a 64-28-4 record. He began his collegiate coaching career at SMC in 2015 as an assistant coach for two seasons before being named head coach in 2017, a position he held for the ensuing three seasons. During his tenure, Hughes led Spartanburg Methodist to the NJCAA Region 10 Conference Tournament every season, while also notching an NJCAA Division 1 Southeast District appearance in 2018.
Before his time on the collegiate level, Hughes also served as a staff coach for two years at Carolina Elite Soccer Academy (CESA) and United FC.
A native of Greenville, South Carolina, Hughes played collegiate soccer at Spartanburg Methodist College and North Greenville University. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Southern New Hampshire University.