Coaching requires early mornings, late nights, weekends, and countless hours spent with athletes. For former Fort Worth ISD basketball coach Robert Hughes, it was no different.
But at the end of a long day of classes and practices, he also dedicated hours to driving players home across the Metroplex.
When Hughes started coaching at I.M. Terrell High School in 1958, the campus was the only school that allowed African American students to attend for miles. High schoolers from as far as Weatherford traveled to the campus each day.
Coach Hughes was determined to eliminate barriers for those students wishing to play basketball.
He continued to coach at I.M. Terrell until 1973, winning three championships at the school. He took over the boys’ basketball coaching position at Dunbar High School, securing two state championships and achieving 30 consecutive playoff appearances.
Coach Hughes is the winningest high school boys basketball coach in history with a career record of 1,333-264. He is a member of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, National High School Hall of Fame, and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.
For many young men, the impact of Hughes went beyond the court. He was a role model for the athletes he coached, cultivating a legacy that transcends basketball. Hughes instilled values of respect, hard work, and discipline in a generation of young men, leaving a lasting impact that continues to resonate with students today.
