Hughes has been with the Bulls since May of 2018.
TAMPA (Aug. 19, 2020) – University of South Florida head women’s basketball coach Jose Fernandez announced on Wednesday the promotion of Danny Hughes to assistant head coach.
The 2020-21 campaign will mark the third season for Hughes on the Bulls’ coaching staff, where he has been primarily responsible for working with, and developing, the program’s post and backcourt players. This season, Hughes will work with the program’s point guards and forwards.
“I’m extremely grateful to Coach Fernandez and the USF administration for this promotion,” said Hughes. “It has been such an honor to work with this tremendous staff and student-athletes over the last two years, and I envision greater days ahead as we continue to move this program to greater heights in the coming years. Having spent my entire life in the game of basketball, I know firsthand what an honor this is to be able to represent USF’s program.”
During his two seasons with the Bulls, Hughes has mentored former center Tamara Henshaw along with Beatriz Jordao, who was on pace for an All-Freshman year in The American during the 2018-19 campaign prior to a season-ending injury. During the 2019-20 season, Hughes helped former two-time junior college All-American Bethy Mununga develop into one of the premier post players in the AAC. Mununga finished her first year with USF ranking third on the team in scoring, averaging 9.2 points per game and first in rebounding, grabbing 10.1 boards per contest, which was also good enough for second in The American.
In addition, Hughes developed guards Sydni Harvey and Elisa Pinzan into two of the more dangerous backcourt players in the conference. Harvey was named to The American All-Freshman Team during the 2018-19 season, while Pinzan was tabbed a Third Team All-Conference selection during the 2019-20 campaign.
“Danny has been an incredible part our program on and off the floor the past two seasons,” said Fernandez. “I look forward to him continuing to assist our student-athletes, staff and program.”
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USF notched its ninth consecutive 19-win season and was poised for its ninth straight postseason appearance in 2019-20 before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the end of the college basketball season. The Bulls celebrated two all-conference honorees in Elena Tsineke and Elisa Pinzan. Tsineke was named the American Athletic Conference Freshman of the Year, in addition to The American All-Freshman Team and Third Team All-Conference; while Pinzan was named a Third Team All-Conference selection.
USF has made 15 postseason tournament appearances and had six NCAA Tournament berths in head coach Jose Fernandez’s 20 seasons. The all-time winningest coach in program history, Fernandez has guided USF to nine 20-win seasons, two WNIT final four appearances, the 2009 WNIT championship and won more than 350 games.
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