Lee Hughes is in his first season as an assistant coach at UAB.

Hughes arrives in Birmingham after working as an assistant coach at Indiana State last season, helping the Sycamores earn five All-Missouri Valley Conference accolades. In addition, Hughes helped place two Sycamores on the MVC All-Tournament Team.

Blazer head coach Erica Demers and Hughes worked together at the University of Iowa in 2015, when Hughes worked as a volunteer assistant coach. While at Iowa, Hughes helped senior Hannah Clark lead the Big Ten in saves (105), saves per game (5.83) and tie for sixth in shutouts (six). Clark ended her career as the winningest goalkeeper in program history (36 victories) and was tops in the record books in career shutouts (26) and third in career saves (321).

The Hawkeyes earned the NSCAA Ethics and Sportsmanship Award and six student-athletes garnered Academic All-Big Ten recognition.

Hughes played collegiately at Ashford University and graduated in 2015 with a bachelor of arts degree in sports management. While at Ashford, Hughes served as team captain and helped the Saints to the NAIA Final Four in 2013 and NAIA Sweet 16 in 2014. Hughes was also named an NAIA Academic All-American in 2014 and was selected as the Scholar Athlete of the Year as a senior.

Hughes was also the head coach of the Dewitt Rockets U12 boys’ team in 2013 in the Eastern Iowa Soccer Association. In 2014 Hughes was a volunteer coach for the Iowa soccer club and assistant coach of Dewitt High School boys’ soccer team.

Raised in Old Colwyn, Wales, Hughes holds his USSF C and D licenses, as well as level one and level two goalkeeping diplomas.