On Tuesday, the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma announced the hiring of Dr. Landon Hughey as the new men’s basketball head coach. The Oklahoma native returns to the Sooner State after three seasons at Lubbock Christian College (NCAA DII). Hughey is no stranger to success and brings a tremendous amount of experience with an extensive background in coaching at the collegiate level.
The USAO men’s basketball team finished the 2023-24 season with a 19-10 overall record and a 14-8 record against conference foes, good for fifth place in the SAC, but narrowly missed out on a national tournament appearance. The Drovers won the NAIA National Championship in 2002 and have qualified for the NAIA national tournament 12 times since 2001, including a recent stretch of four consecutive appearances from 2019-2023. Additionally, the USAO men’s basketball program has produced 24 NAIA All-American’s.
Hughey is a proven winner everywhere he has been. During his time at LCU he helped lead the Chaparrals to their best season in school history, a #1 national ranking, and a Lone Star Conference championship. In addition to success on the court, LCU has boasted team GPAs above 3.5 and high retention rates.
When asked about the new hire, USAO Athletic Director Mike Ross said,” We are excited to have Landon join our athletic department as our men’s basketball head coach. His familiarity with the Sooner Athletic Conference and the success he has consistently had as an assistant coach makes this a great fit. I look forward to watching him continue building this successful program.”
On the new opportunity, head coach Landon Hughey said,” I am humbled and honored to be named the head men’s basketball coach at USAO. I would like to thank Mike Ross and the hiring committee for entrusting me with this position. The opportunity to return to Oklahoma and coach in the Sooner Athletic Conference is special. As a coach I place a high value on building strong relationships within the team, across campus, and in the community. I am excited to get to Chickasha and get to work!”
Prior to LCU, Hughey spent six seasons at Wayland Baptist University (NAIA), where he helped to lead the Pioneers to their best six-year stretch in program history, averaging over 22 wins a year and a 3.0 team GPA every semester. The Pioneers reached as high as No. 3 in the national rankings and reached the national quarterfinal in 2018. The program also won the Sooner Athletic Conference for the first time in school history in 2019, and the conference tournament for only the second time in school history in 2016.
Before moving to Plainview, Hughey served as the assistant coach at Fort Scott Community College in Kansas (NJCAA). During his tenue at Fort Scott, Hughey helped guide the Greyhounds to a third-place finish in the challenging Region VI and earn a home playoff game for the first time in over 50 years.
Hughey spent 2012-14 as the director of basketball operations and video coordinator at Northern Arizona University (NCAA DI). At NAU, Hughey assisted head coach Jack Murphy in managing and coordinating all aspects of the basketball program. Despite being picked ninth in the preseason Big Sky Conference poll in the 2013-14 season, the Lumberjacks finished the regular season tied for second place in the league.
Prior to his stint at NAU, Hughey served as a graduate assistant with the Arizona State University (NCAA DI) basketball team from 2010-12 while earning his master’s degree. At ASU, Hughey served Herb Sendek’s staff by being involved with daily operations of the basketball program and assisting with player development.
Before joining the Sun Devils, Hughey was a student manager for the University of Oklahoma basketball team from 2006-10, which included Blake Griffin’s All-American career with the Sooners, as well as a run to the Elite Eight in the 2008-09 season. At Oklahoma, Hughey assisted with the daily operations of practice and other duties within the program.
Hughey graduated with his bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Oklahoma in May 2010, earned his master’s degree in Higher and Postsecondary Education from Arizona State University in May 2012, and his doctorate degree in Educational Leadership from Liberty University in May 2021.
Hughey and his wife Jennifer are both originally from El Reno, Oklahoma, and they return home with their four daughters.
https://www.usaoathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2023-24/releases/20240806jyd2ha
