Josh Hughes was announced as the new head coach of the Franklin men's soccer program in December 2024.
A veteran within the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) both as a player and coach, Hughes joins the Grizzlies after serving as the top assistant and recruiting coordinator at his alma mater, Hanover College. Hughes joined the program as an assistant ahead of the 2022 campaign and during that time, the Panthers have appeared in two HCAC title games and advanced to the conference semifinals one other time. Over his three years on the coach staff, Hanover has won 28 games in total and 18 HCAC contests against just three defeats.
As a forward for the Panthers, Hughes racked up 35 goals and 25 assists over 71 contests and helped Hanover to HCAC tournament wins in 2019 and 2021, with the latter advancing to the round of 16 in the NCAA Tournament. He was named Second Team All-American by the United Soccer Coaches Association (USCA) in 2021, was the 2019 HCAC Offensive Player of the Year and was a USCA All-Region selection in both 2019 and 2021.
""First, I want to express how excited I am to be welcomed into the Franklin family," Hughes said upon appointment. "This is an exciting challenge for me and my family and we are very thankful to be afforded this opportunity. I want to specifically thank the search committee and Coach Marshall for demonstrating their belief in me. I am eager to begin working with a great staff at the College. Most importantly, I am looking forward to building a soccer program filled with young men who strive for excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the campus community."
Hughes graduated from Hanover in 2022 with a bachelor's degree in communications.
