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UConn defensive coordinator Hank Hughes named interim football coach

Another press release from UConn, as defensive coordinator Hank Hughes, who has been with the program for 10 years, will take over head coaching duties for the time being.

Hughes is one of the assistants staying behind after Randy Edsall departed for Maryland yesterday. Offensive coordinator Joe Moorehead and special teams coach Lyndon Johnson are all heading to College Park. Running backs coach Terry Richardson will ply his trade at Miami.

The release, which unfortunately is sic'd, is below the jump.

Jan. 3, 2011

STORRS, Conn. - Hank Hughes, who has been a member of the University of Connecticut football staff for the past ten seasons, has been named the interim head coach of Husky football team. The 2010 season was Hughes' six as the assistant head coach for defense after spending the previous three as the defensive coordinator. He joined the UConn staff in 2001 as the defensive line coach.

"Hank Hughes is the perfect choice to fill the role as interim head coach for our football program," says UConn Director of Athletics Jeffrey Hathaway. "He has been a long-time member of our coaching staff and is extremely loyal to our university and our Division of Athletics. Hank will provide outstanding leadership to our football student-athletes and support staff during this time of transition."

"I am extremely excited to serve as interim head coach of the University of Connecticut football program," says Hughes. "We are proud of our success and what we have achieved. Our student-athletes, coaches and support staff look to build upon the current success of this program and continue to move forward to new heights both academically and athletically."

Hughes is a 32-year veteran of the coaching profession and was the defensive line coach at Memphis from 1998-2000 before joining the UConn staff. Hughes worked at Harvard (1994-97) where he was the assistant head coach, defensive line coach and special teams coordinator. He was defensive line coach at Cincinnati in 1993 and was an assistant coach for the Montreal Machine of the World League of American Football in 1991 and 1992, serving as linebacker coach in 1991 and adding defensive coordinator duties in 1992. Hughes was the linebacker coach and recruiting coordinator at James Madison from 1985-90, served as linebackers and defensive line coach at Lafayette from 1982-84 and also coached the defensive line at Northeastern (1981), Springfield College (1980) and Albany (1979). Hughes is a 1979 graduate of Springfield College with a bachelor's degree in physical education.