University of Central Missouri’s Jerry Hughes Set to Join MIAA Hall of Fame
Former longtime University of Central Missouri Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics, the late Jerry Hughes, will be posthumously inducted into the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) Hall of Fame as part of the 2024 enshrinement class, the conference office announced Thursday, April 4.
Hughes was named athletics director at UCM in 1983 and went on to serve in that role until his passing in January 2023.
Under his leadership, Central Missouri won 179 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association championships and 10 national championships, in addition to having 50 other top-four NCAA finishes and making more than 300 NCAA postseason appearances.
In addition to his success directing athletics at Central Missouri, Hughes held multiple leadership positions in Division II governance, including serving on the NCAA Executive Committee (when that body oversaw all three divisions) and as chair of the Division II Championships Committee. He also served a term as NCAA vice president of Division II and was a member of the NCAA Council (both before the NCAA federated its governance structure in 1997), making him the only person to twice hold the highest-ranking office available to athletics administrators in Division II. After federation, Hughes chaired the Division II Management Council.
Hughes was most recently honored with the 2023 NCAA Division II 50th Anniversary Gold Award, an award given to an individual who made a lasting and positive impact on all of NCAA Division II.
Hughes graduated from Central Missouri in 1971 with a bachelor’s degree in physical education, having lettered in golf during his undergraduate studies, and he received his master’s degree in secondary school administration from the university in 1979. He joined Central Missouri that same year as a business placement director and became assistant athletics director in July 1981. He was named athletics director in January 1983.
Hughes was posthumously inducted into the UCM Athletic Hall of Fame in February 2024. He was enshrined in the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2005 and was named a Missouri Sports Legend by the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.
The MIAA Hall of Fame Class of 2024:
Jackie Bishop, Missouri Western Softball Athlete
John Bryant, Southwest Baptist Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach
Nate Dreiling, Pittsburg State Football Athlete
David Fisher, Missouri Southern Baseball Athlete
Jennifer Harris, Washburn Women’s Basketball Athlete
Maddie Holub, Fort Hays State Softball Athlete
Jerry Hughes, Administrator, Central Missouri
Russ Jewett, Pittsburg State Men’s and Women’s Cross Country and Track and Field Coach
Andy Vogelsberg, Emporia State Men’s Track and Field Athlete
Kasey Waterman, Missouri Western Football Athlete
LEGACY – Dani Fronabarger Robinson, Pittsburg State Women’s Basketball Athlete