June 6, 2007

ST. LOUIS - Saint Louis University director of athletics Cheryl L. Levick announced today that head baseball coach Bob Hughes is resigning from his position after 19 seasons due to health reasons. A national search for Hughes' successor will begin immediately.

"We thank Bob for his leadership of the baseball team and his service to Saint Louis University," Levick said. "Bob guided the baseball program through numerous improvements during his tenure and saw the fruits of that labor in winning last year's Atlantic 10 title. We wish him well and much success in his next venture."

Hughes coached 997 games over his 19 seasons at SLU, punctuated by the program's Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament championship and return to the NCAA Tournament in 2006 after a 40-year drought. He is the longest tenured coach in SLU athletics history and is the winningest SLU baseball coach with 361 victories. In 2006, Hughes guided the Billikens to a school-record 32 wins.

Since taking over the program in 1989, Hughes has seen eight players selected in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft and had four others sign free agent contracts to play with minor league affiliates. Over 19 seasons, Hughes had 25 players acquire 34 All-Conference selections, including two who went on to earn All-Region honors and one who reached All-America status.

Academically, Hughes' teams always thrived, capturing the Conference USA Baseball Academic Award all 10 years SLU was a member. All 11 Academic All-District players in SLU history played for Hughes, as did all three players who earned Academic All-America status.

Prior to coming to SLU, Hughes enjoyed success as a head coach at Southwestern Illinois College and as an assistant at SIU Edwardsville. His playing career included stints in the minor league systems of the St. Louis Cardinals and the Los Angeles Dodgers. In recognition of his distinguished career, Hughes was inducted into the St. Louis Amateur Hall of Fame in 2003 and the Mon-Clair League Hall of Fame in 1998. His playing career was cut short by his service in Vietnam where he earned a Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars.