Harry W. Hughes
Harry Walker Hughes (October 9, 1887 – July 26, 1953) was an American football player, coach of football, basketball, baseball, and track, and college athletics administrator. From 1911 to 1941, he served as the head football coach and athletic director at the Agricultural College of Colorado, renamed Colorado College of Agricultural and Mechanic Arts in 1935 and now known as Colorado State University, compiling a record of 126–92–18.
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 9, 1887 DeKalb County, Missouri |
| Died | July 26, 1953 (aged 65) |
| Playing career | |
| 1904–1907 | Oklahoma |
| Position(s) | Halfback, quarterback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| Football | |
| 1910 | Oklahoma (assistant) |
| 1911–1941 | Colorado Agricultural/A&M |
| 1946 | Colorado A&M |
| Basketball | |
| 1911–1925 | Colorado Agricultural |
| Administrative career (AD unless noted) | |
| 1911–1953 | Colorado Agricultural/A&M |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 126–92–18 (football) 60–79 (basketball) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| Football 8 RMC (1915–1916, 1919–1920, 1925, 1927, 1933–1934) | |
| Awards | |
| Helms Football Hall of Fame (1952) Colorado Sports Hall of Fame (1972) Colorado State University Sports Hall of Fame (1988) | |
Early life and playing career
Hughes was born in Missouri to Roland and Lena Walker Hughes and raised in Norman, Oklahoma. He played football for the University of Oklahoma from 1904 to 1907, and was coached by Bennie Owen in 1905, 1906 and 1907.
Coaching career
Hughes coached the Norman High School football team in 1907 and returned to the University of Oklahoma as assistant coach under Owen in 1910. He accepted the position of athletic director and head football coach at Colorado Agricultural College in 1911 and turned a winless team in 1911 into conference champions and an undefeated record in 1915. Hughes also helped build Colorado Field, the first sodded football field in Colorado history, replacing Durkee Field (1899–1911). Colorado Field was the home of the Colorado Aggies and Colorado State Rams from 1912 to 1967.
Harry Hughes won eight conference championships in the Rocky Mountain Conference, in 1915, 1916, 1919, 1920, 1925, 1927, 1933, and 1934. He was a member of the NCAA National Rules Committee beginning in 1926 until his retirement in 1953. Hughes coached the Aggies from 1911 to 1941 in football and remained as the Athletic Director until his retirement in 1953. He also coached baseball (1912–1916), basketball (1912–1925) and track (1911–1953) at Colorado Aggies during his tenure as athletic director. In the early 1930s Hughes was given the nickname "Dean of American Football Coaches" by sportswriters and fellow coaches for his many seasons at one school. He was famously known as one of the most fair and sportsmanlike football coaches in America. He coached football from 1911 to 1941 and after resigning as football coach remained as the school's Athletic Director until 1953. Upon his retirement he was inducted into the Helms Football Hall of Fame on Harry Hughes Day, November 8, 1952.
Known as a tough but fair coach, Hughes was a strict disciplinarian who developed a play in 1914 known as the Million Dollar Play. This triple pass was an end around play based on the single wing formation and helped Hughes lead his teams to national fame. Some of Hughes' greatest players were Ralph "Sag" Robinson (All-American Honorable Mention 1916), Kenneth Hyde (1925 All-American 3rd team) and Glenn Morris (1936 US Olympic Decathlon Gold Medal winner). Hughes broke the color barrier in modern Colorado football in 1939 when he played John Mosley between 1939 and 1942.
Hughes retired from Colorado A&M College on July 1, 1953 after 42 years as Aggies coach and athletic director. He died 25 days later from a massive heart attack. When Colorado State University built their new football stadium in 1968, it was named Hughes Stadium in his honor and today it is known as Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium. Located in Fort Collins, Colorado beneath the massive A moniker on the mountain, Hughes Stadium also has a Harry Hughes Memorial Room dedicated in his memory for alumni to visit before games.