Judge Hughes facts for kids
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 17, 1944 Columbus, Mississippi |
| Died | July 31, 2013 (aged 69) |
| Playing career | |
| c. 1965 | Jackson State |
| 1967 | Atlanta Falcons |
| 1969 | Atlanta Falcons |
| Position(s) | Defensive lineman |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1977–1999 | Jackson State (assistant) |
| 1999–2002 | Jackson State |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 30–15 |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 1 SWAC East Division (1999) | |
Robert E. "Judge" Hughes (born November 17, 1944 – died July 31, 2013) was an American football player and coach. He was chosen by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1967 NFL/AFL Draft. He played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Atlanta Falcons in 1967 and 1969. Later, Hughes became the head football coach at his old university, Jackson State University, from 1999 to 2002. During his time as head coach, his team won 30 games and lost 15.
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Playing Football in College
Judge Hughes played as a defensive lineman for the Jackson State Tigers college team. A defensive lineman is a player who tries to stop the other team from running or passing the ball. He was so good that he was named to the Jackson State University (JSU) All-Century team in 2011. He is also honored in the university's Hall of Fame, which celebrates important people from the school's history.
Playing Football Professionally
After his college career, Hughes was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1967 NFL/AFL Draft. This meant the Eagles picked him to play for their professional team. He then played for the Atlanta Falcons, another professional team, in 1967 and again in 1969. Playing in the NFL is a big achievement for any football player.
Coaching Football at Jackson State
Before becoming a head coach, Judge Hughes was an assistant coach and helped find new players for the Jackson State Tigers. This job is called a recruiting coordinator. In 1999, he became the head coach of the Jackson State Tigers. He coached the team for four seasons.
In his first year as head coach, Hughes led Jackson State to a great 9–3 record. This means they won 9 games and lost only 3. They also won the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) East Division title. This led them to play in the first-ever SWAC Championship Game in Birmingham, Alabama. Even though they lost that game by a very close score of 31–30, it was a big accomplishment.
In the next three seasons, Hughes's teams continued to do well, finishing with a 7–4 record each year. Overall, his record as head coach at Jackson State was 30 wins and 15 losses. This means his teams won about two-thirds of their games, which is a very good winning percentage.
His Life and Passing
Judge Hughes was married to his wife, Joyce, and they had three children together. He passed away in 2013. His death was due to health problems from diabetes, a condition where the body has trouble controlling blood sugar.
