GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Kyle Hughes has been named the head men's soccer coach at Tusculum University announced Josh Ealy, vice president for athletics.
Hughes becomes the ninth head coach in the storied history of the program and replaces longtime coach Allen Vital, who accepted the same post at NCAA Division I East Tennessee State University.
Hughes has experience at both the NCAA Division I and II levels as well as the junior college circuit.
"We are excited to welcome Kyle to our Tusculum family. Kyle has a wealth of experience at the collegiate level including the South Atlantic Conference," said Ealy. "Our student-athletes will benefit greatly from his passion and energy for the program. He will continue to build on Tusculum's history of success on and off the soccer pitch."
He previously served on the coaching staff at NCAA I Presbyterian College during the 2023 campaign. The Blue Hose had a school-record three players garner All-Big South Conference recognition including Damorney Hutchinson, who was named the Newcomer of the Year and rookie forward Victor Faaborg Christensen was selected as the league's Freshman of the Year. Faaborg was also selected as a third team Freshman All-American by the College Soccer News. PC also had three student-athletes named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team.
In 2022, Hughes was an assistant coach at Gardner-Webb University as the Runnin' Bulldogs finished fifth in the Big South Conference while compiling seven victories. He mentored two student-athletes that went onto earn All-Big South Conference accolades as well as being BSC All-Academic team mentions.
He served as the associate head coach at Mars Hill University during the 2020 and 2021 campaigns. He helped guide the Lions to two trips to the South Atlantic Conference Tournament which included a double-overtime loss in the 2021 SAC Championship match. He coached some of the league's top talent as Hughes mentored forwards Kevonte Willoughby-Williams and Peter Plougmand, a MHU duo that combined for 20 goals and 12 assists in 2021 en route to Willoughby-Williams earning SAC Freshman of the Year honors and both players garnered All-Conference laurels.
Prior to Mars Hill, Hughes spent five seasons on the coaching staff at Spartanburg Methodist College, where he helped the Pioneers compile a 64-28-4 record. In 2015, he began his collegiate coaching career at SMC as an assistant coach for two years before being named head coach in 2017, a position he held for three seasons. During his tenure, Hughes led Spartanburg Methodist to the NJCAA Region 10 Conference Tournament every season, while also notching an NJCAA Division I Southeast District appearance in 2018.
"I am thrilled to accept the position as the new head men's soccer coach at Tusculum University," Hughes said. "I want to thank President Scott Hummel and Vice President of Athletics Josh Ealy for this opportunity to lead the program to new heights. I look forward to working with our student-athletes, faculty and staff to achieve our goals both on and off the field."
Hughes has also served as a staff coach at the Carolina Elite Soccer Academy (CESA) and United FC.
A native of Greenville, South Carolina, Hughes played his collegiate soccer at Spartanburg Methodist and at North Greenville University. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Health from Southern New Hampshire University in 2012.
