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Tony Hughes
Jackson State Head Coach
What or who inspired you to become a coach?
My high school head football coach.
What do you consider your greatest achievement/
accomplishment and why?
Becoming the head football coach at JSU
–because I always wanted to be a head coach.
What’s your favorite thing to do in your spare time?
Play golf and read history.
Is there a part of your job that you didn’t anticipate?
Day to day issues dealing with finances.
If you could give one piece of advice to a young person,
what would it be?
Work hard, be humble, be a good follower
and listener.
What do you love most about Jackson?
Living in the largest city in the state, the people.
What is the most rewarding thing about your job?
Seeing young people become successful.
What is the typical day in the life of a college coach?
18 hour days, up at 3:30 a.m.
What is your favorite Jackson State tradition?
Sonic Boom of the South playing “Get Ready.”
Besides your home stadium, where is your favorite place
to play and why?
Mumford Stadium at Southern University in Baton
Rouge. Great football atmosphere.
What is your favorite childhood sports memory?
Joe Frazier defeating Muhammad Ali for The Fight
of the Century in Madison Square Garden.
What are your feelings about having more teams in the
national play-offs?
Love the playoffs. It gives teams opportunity to earn
a championship.
What’s one of the most difficult things about being a
public figure? And what’s the most rewarding thing?
The most difficult thing is the criticism. The most
rewarding is being thanked for the work we do.
Who is your biggest fan?
My wife, Marion Hughes!
What’s your biggest win as a coach?
Defeating Alcorn State 7-3 in 2017.
Hometown Clinton • 35