ADAM HUGHES

Head Coach

Adam Hughes was elevated to head coach of the Maryland volleyball program on Jan. 23, 2018 and will enter his seventh season at the helm in 2024. Previously the associate head coach for the Terrapins, Hughes is the fifth head coach in program history. He owns 88 career victories after completion of the 2023 season. Between 2021-23, he has led the Terps to three consecutive .500 or better seasons for the first time since 2002-05.

For Maryland's third consecutive season over .500, Hughes led the Terps to a 17-15 record. Maryland knocked off three NCAA Tournament teams on the season and matched its conference record from the prior two seasons. Hughes guided the team to a AVCA Top 25 win for the third year in a row, besting No. 16 Minnesota in five sets for the program's first-ever victory over the Golden Gophers.

He also recorded his 75th career win on September 2, 2023, with a four-set triumph over Utah Valley.

Hughes led Maryland to another strong season in 2022, notching victories in nine of their opening 12 matches. The Terps continued their success in Big Ten play, picking up ranked wins over No. 9 Purdue and No. 5 Ohio State. The sweep over the Boilermakers marked the program's first-ever road victory over a Top-10 team. 

In 2021, Hughes led the Terps to one of their best seasons in recent memory. The Terps' 19 victories is the most since 2010 for the Terps. Maryland's undefeated 13-0 start was the team's best beginning since 2005. Their seven Big Ten victories, are the most for the program since 2018. The highlight of the season came with a thrilling five-set victory over the eventual National Champion Wisconsin Badgers. 

He recorded his 50th career victory with a 3-0 sweep over Indiana on October 9, 2021. 

Hughes elevated Maryland to new heights within the Big Ten in his first year as head coach, leading the Terps to a number of program bests and firsts. In 2018, Maryland won a program-best nine Big Ten matches and the most road matches (nine) in 13 years. In addition, Hughes led Maryland to their first road win over a ranked team, defeating No. 15 Michigan on November 7, first ever win at Ohio State, and season sweeps over Ohio State, Rutgers and Iowa. Hughes coached Maryland's first ever First Team All-Big Ten performer, Erika Pritchard, who led the conference in kills per set and Maryland's first ever three-time Big Ten Player of the Week, Allegra Rivas, who took home the defensive award three times. Guiding the young team, featuring 10 underclassmen, Maryland notched 18 wins and set the XFINITY Pavilion attendance record on November 17 agaisnt No. 7 Wisconsin, welcoming in 1,848 fans. 

In his four years as an assistant at Maryland, Hughes has been instrumental in raising the talent on the court and excitement around the program. The Terps brought the 16th-ranked recruiting class in for 2016, the first time in program history the freshman class has been ranked. In 2017, Maryland welcomed its first-ever top-10 recruiting class with four Under Armour All-Americans.

In 2016, the Terps featured a young, talented squad, including All-Big Ten Honorable Mention selection Gia Milana. Maryland continued to build excitement around the program as the Terps set the XFINITY Pavilion attendance record with 1,808 fans against Penn State on Nov. 11.

In 2015, the Terrapins began the season on an 8-0 run, trumping the season before for the program's best start since 2005. Maryland moved to 10-1, matching 2014's season total in wins. In the team's Big Ten opener vs. Illinois, the Terps set the highest Pavilion attendance with 1,752 fans. Maryland earned its first win over a ranked opponent since 2010 with a three-set upset of No. 12 Ohio State on Nov. 6.

On April 1, 2015, Hughes was named a recipient of the prestigious 'Thirty Under 30' award by the American Volleyball Coaches Association, which honors the top-30 up-and-coming volleyball coaches under the age of 30.

Hughes helped coach Maryland through its most difficult schedule in 2014 as the Terps took on 12 ranked opponents in their first season in the Big Ten Conference. He played a crucial role in increasing interest and support from the community as the Terps set four top-10 attendance records in program history, including the No. 1 attendance record (4,522 vs. Penn State, Oct. 23).  Hughes also has community ties as a coach for Metro American Volleyball Club's 15 Travel team.

Hughes' duties as the Director of Volleyball Operations at Penn State included team travel logistics and day-to-day organization, as well as being the primary technical operator of the Data Volley and Data Video software. The Nittany Lions captured the national title in 2013.

In addition, Hughes was also the volunteer assistant coach for the women's volleyball team at UC Irvine in 2008-09. At UCI, Hughes handled video exchange, statistical analysis, helped build scouting reports and developed and implemented practice plans.

Hughes served as a volunteer assistant and manager for the Nittany Lion women from 2003-08. During that time, he assisted in team training, worked with Data Volleyball and DigVid, supported recruiting efforts and served as gym coordinator for four courts during the Penn State individual and team summer camps.

During his nine seasons at Penn State, Hughes helped the Nittany Lions capture three NCAA National Championships and eight Big Ten Conference championships.

Following graduation, Hughes was an assistant coach with the State College Area High School boys varsity volleyball team and the head coach of the junior varsity squad. He was responsible for player development, served as the State College Invitational Director, where he oversaw a 24-team tournament, and also built and coached the Nittany Elite Volleyball Club program for off-season training.

Hughes earned a bachelor's degree in Economics from the Penn State Smeal School of Business in 2006.

Adam and his wife, Alice, have three daughters, Harper, Hayden, and Henley.