Jackson State hires Tony Hughes as next coach

Tony Hughes said championships aren't thought of at Jackson State, it's more like they're expected.

After dipping well below championship levels as a football program the past two seasons the Tigers have tasked Hughes, who had been serving as the assistant head coach, safeties coach and recruiting coordinator at Mississippi State, with bringing Jackson State back to those heights.

JSU announced Hughes as its head football coach at an on-campus news conference on Monday.

“It is indeed an honor for me to come to be the head football coach at Jackson State University. The reason I chose to come is because of the great tradition in football that this university represents," Hughes said. "This is a program with a lot of pride and a lot of tradition. What we've come to do is we come to rekindle that pride and that tradition and put Jackson State University football back in the place where it belongs,and that's at the top."

Hughes, 56, has been an assistant throughout his 31-year coaching career.

When asked what it's like to finally be a head coach, Hughes let out an emphatic "Woo" then went on to say he has finally made it. He already has in mind how he wants to run his program.

“I don’t think there’s a manual on how to be a head coach … different coaches are successful in doing it different ways," Hughes said. "We know the way we want to do it. We want to do it with discipline, old-fashioned discipline, we want to do it with toughness. We want to love our players … we want to educate them."

Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen praised Hughes as a coach and a person.

"Tony is fulfilling a lifelong dream of becoming a head coach, and I am very proud of him," Mullen said in a statement. "He has been a loyal assistant and a tireless recruiter. He's done a tremendous job in helping elevate our program in our seven years here. Jackson State is not only getting an excellent head coach, but a great person and family man."

Kellenberger: At least Jackson St. got this hire right

Hughes is inheriting a Tigers program that has posted an 8-15 record since it fired Rick Comegy nearly two years ago.

Comegy's replacement, Harold Jackson, was fired five games through the 2015 season. JSU assistant coach Derrick McCall took over for Jackson in an interim capacity.

Wheeler Brown, Jackson State's athletic director, said Hughes' contract is similar to Jackson's, which paid him $260,000 per year. Hughes earned $400,000 at Mississippi State this season.

"We'll be getting (those details) out shortly. I know it's three years and almost in line with coach Jackson's contract," Brown said. "Few more incentives, for APR and things like that."

Hughes, 56, is a Southern Miss alumnus and has spent the past seven years as a member of Mississippi State’s coaching staff. He coached the Golden Eagles’ secondary in 2008 and was at Ole Miss from 2005 through 2007, coaching defensive backs and then tight ends.

He's also coached on the junior college level at Hinds Community College and at the high school level at Hattiesburg, South Natchez and Philadelphia.

Rivals.com named Hughes one of the country’s top 25 recruiters earlier this year after the Bulldogs signed five of the state’s top six players. Hughes’ recruiting prowess figures to be a major bonus for Jackson State.

Hughes said the recruiting base will be the state of Mississippi and the Jackson area.

"I believe that there’s enough players in the state of Mississippi, if we recruit right and evaluate, there’s enough players that every year we field a great football team," Hughes said.

Hughes said he hadn't had a chance to study every aspect of the roster or talk to Tigers players prior to his announcement, but intended to call every player on the current roster who is slated to return next season.

No decision has been made, according to Hughes, on if he will remain on Mississippi State's staff through the team's bowl game. The Bulldogs will face N.C. State in the Belk Bowl on Dec. 30.

There was no word on which previous JSU assistants will remain on Hughes' staff, if any.

“Yes we’re looking at keeping some coaches from the previous staff,” Hughes said. “I’d rather not comment (on who) at this time.”

Contact Antonio Morales at amorales2@jackson.gannett.com. Follow @AntonioCMorales on Twitter.