Greg Hughes, who helped the Princeton lightweight crew win two national titles as an undergraduate, has been named the new head coach of the Tiger men's lightweight crew program, it was announced today by Princeton Director of Athletics Gary D. Walters.
"I couldn't be any happier about selecting Greg Hughes to lead our men's lightweight crew," Walters said. "It sends a strong signal about our commitment to great coaching and leadership in the program. I feel confident that Greg will be able to sustain the excellence achieved by his predecessor, Joe Murtaugh."
Hughes recently completed his eighth year as freshman coach of the Princeton men's heavyweight crew. His freshman boat won the Eastern Sprints in 1998 and 2003 and went undefeated in both the 2002 and 2003 regular seasons.
Hughes' squad finished the 2003 season in grand style, claiming the Eastern Sprint title, the IRA national title and the Temple Challenge Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta in England. Six of those rowers were juniors in Princeton's first varsity boat that placed second at both the 2005 Eastern Sprint and IRA national championships.
In eight years as the head freshman coach at Princeton, his boat was a perfect 16-for-16 in reaching grand finals at both the Eastern Sprints and IRAs.
In 1999, Hughes co-coached the lightweight men's 2- and the heavyweight 2+ at the World Championships, with the latter winning the gold. He coached the U.S. Under-23 men's eight to a bronze medal and also coached the men's pair at the Under-23 World Championships in 2000. The next year, Hughes assisted Murtaugh in coaching the U.S. lightweight eight that won bronze at the World Championships. In 2002, Hughes coached the Under-23 men's eight to a gold and the pair to a bronze at the World Championships. He also led the U.S. 4+ to a bronze medal at the 2004 World Championships.
"Princeton lightweight crew has had a long history of success largely thanks to Joe Murtaugh and his predecessor, Gary Kilpatrick," Hughes said. "I am honored to return to Princeton's lightweight program and I look forward to continuing Princeton's legacy of success"
Hughes was a four-year lightweight rower for Murtaugh, who resigned following the 2005 season for personal reasons. A 1996 Princeton graduate, Hughes was an All-Ivy League rower on the 1994 and 1996 national championship lightweight crews. He served as team captain in 1996 and won the Gordon G. Sikes Award for the greatest contribution to Princeton lightweight crew. He would go on to be an alternate for both the 1997 and 1998 lightweight U.S. national teams.