May 5, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - Ronald Hughey, a noted recruiter with a decade of basketball coaching experience at all levels of the game, has been named assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for the University of Central Florida women's basketball team, head coach Joi Williams announced Monday.
Hughey replaces Brandy Manning, who accepted an assistant coaching position at the University of Arizona.
"I am very grateful for Coach Manning's efforts in helping lay a strong foundation for our program," Williams said. "Although you never want to lose a good assistant, I am excited for the opportunity he has at Arizona and wish him much success."
Hughey joins the Knights after one season as an assistant coach at the University of South Carolina. He helped head coach Susan Walvius lead the Gamecocks to the second round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament, the third consecutive postseason appearance for South Carolina. While in Columbia, Hughey played a big part in helping the Gamecocks secure the No. 7-ranked recruiting class in the nation, as judged by the Blue Star Girls' Basketball Report.
His additional responsibilities at UCF will include working with the team's perimeter players and assisting with scouting.
"I am extremely excited to have someone with Coach Hughey's experience and accomplishments join my staff," Williams said. "He is well respected among his peers and made an immediate impact in only one year at the University of South Carolina. I have no doubt that Coach Hughey will bring a very strong work-ethic, and will help us to continue to elevate this program to a championship level."
Prior to South Carolina, Hughey served as the recruiting coordinator on Tonya Mackey's staff at South Carolina State University. He also handled the majority of the Bulldogs' scouting reports and player development from 2004-07. In only three years at SCSU, a trio of Bulldogs earned all-conference recognition under Hughey's guidance. Brittany Baity was a 2007 all-league selection, Melanie Denson was a 2006 honoree and Evena Morency earned recognition in 2005.
Before joining the college ranks, Hughey served as the assistant varsity boys coach at W.J. Keenan High School in Columbia, S.C., from 2001-04. Keenan participated in the playoffs in each of his three years on staff and was one of the Palmetto State's most successful teams during his tenure. At Keenan, Hughey helped develop Brandon Trapp and Thurman Zimmerman, both of whom went on to play at South Carolina State and Alexander Harper, who competed collegiately at Virginia Commonwealth.
Hughey went to Keenan after one season in the same role at C.A. Johnson Preparatory Academy, also in Columbia, in 2000-01. His first coaching job came at Alcorn Middle School, where he served as head boys basketball coach from 1996-98. Hughey left coaching to join the concrete business before returning to the court at C.A. Johnson in 2000.
Hughey attended C.A. Johnson Preparatory Academy and was a three-year letterwinner as a forward on the basketball team. The school won the South Carolina state high school championship in his senior season of 1989. He also was a three-year letterwinner on the football team, on which he played quarterback, and a three-year cross country letterwinner as well.
"I am very blessed by the opportunity that Joi gave me to join her staff," Hughey said. "I knew after 20 minutes of speaking with her that I could work well with her for many years. My goal every day is to do better than the day before and I apply that to every aspect of my life. I eat, sleep and drink the game of basketball and I am looking forward to showing that every day in how I do my job."
Hughey spent three years attending South Carolina State before earning his bachelor's degree in liberal arts from Limestone College in December 2006. He is married to the former Alethea Barnes, a 1994 graduate of the University of South Carolina. He has two daughters, Sanabarabara (15) and Rhonda (8).
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--UCF Athletics--