Jen Hughes

Biography

2025 marked Jen Hughes' 21st season at the helm of the Amherst College women's soccer program, which has become one of the premier teams in NCAA Division III. Since taking the reins in 2004, Hughes has led Amherst to a 270-73-44 overall record, six NESCAC titles and 16 NCAA Division III Tournament appearances. She is the all-time winningest coach in program history, surpassing legend Michelle Morgan with her 208th win on Oct. 30, 2021. Hughes, along with assistants Su DelGuercio and Jeff Huffman, were named the United Soccer Coaches Region I Coaching Staff of the Year in both 2022 and 2023. In 2023, Hughes additionally earned her fourth NESCAC Coach of the Year honor and was also named Division III Women's Coach of the Year by New England Soccer Journal. A 1997 graduate of Colgate University, Hughes spent two seasons as an assistant coach at her alma mater before earning master's degrees in both business administration and sport management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She was one of the best women's soccer players in Colgate history, leading the Division I Red Raiders to three consecutive Patriot League Championships and earning countless individual honors. Graduating as Colgate's all-time leader in goals (40), assists (26) and points (106), Hughes was a 1997 NCAA Woman of the Year nominee and a winner of the ECAC Merit Medal for excellence in academics and athletics. Following her senior season, Hughes was selected to play on the Region 1 team at the 1998 U.S.