| John McHugh |
|
|
As an 87-pound junior high school student, John McHugh never pictured himself in the sport of wrestling. Today, he could not picture his life without it. For the 2001-02 season, McHugh retired after the 2002-03 season. He was the head coach of the Maryland wrestling team for 25 years with a record of 281-172-8 throughout his coaching career.
Since becoming the head coach in 1978, after nine years as an assistant, he has coached six student-athletes to All-American status and had 25 ACC champions. His legacy has stretched to the point where the National Wrestling Hall of Fame honored him with a Lifetime Service Award in 1995. Although he has become one of the most respected coaches in the NCAA, his focus has always remained on the present season and working with his team.
While his slight junior high school frame was not enough to keep him out of wrestling as a youngster, his perseverance has pushed him into success ever since. When his older brother told him that the nearby high school varsity team needed someone for their 95-pound weight class, McHugh jumped at the chance. He recalls that on the first day he arrived wearing just a bathing suit and left with burns all over his body from the horse hair-covered mat. He quickly adjusted to the surface and, as a sophomore, won the regionals. By his senior year, he was the state champion.
Upon graduating, McHugh won a scholarship to the University of Maryland where he became a two-time ACC champion and made the nationals three times. His career was highlighted by an appearance in the NCAA semifinals in his senior year--only to be pinned by an Olympian after taking an early 7-3 lead. From Maryland, he spent the next decade in multiple places from his three years of active duty as a captain in the Marine reserves to coaching at both American University and Catholic University. During this period of time, he attained a master's degree in physical education and taught numerous classes. In 1969, McHugh returned to Maryland as an assistant coach, eventually taking over the reigns from William "Sully" Krouse.
While he regrets passing up the opportunity to earn a doctorate in physical education, John McHugh has followed his true passion, and will continue to run the Maryland wrestling program with the heart and determination that he showed on the mats as a Terrapin wrestler.
All-Time Record
at Catholic University
Year Overall Pct.
1963 3-6 .333
1964 4-5 .455
1965 5-5 .500
1966 6-3 .667
at American University
Year Overall Pct.
1967 3-6 .333
1968 4-6 .400
1969 6-4 .600
at University of Maryland
Year Overall Pct. ACC Pct. Finish
1979 8-7-1 .531 1-3 .250 4th
1980 12-6-1 .658 2-3 .400 4th
1981 12-6-1 .658 1-2-1 .333 5th
1982 13-6 .684 2-3 .400 4th
1983 9-4 .692 2-2 .500 4th
1984 16-4 .800 4-1 .750 2nd
1985 5-10 .333 2-4 .333 5th
1986 9-7 .563 2-3 .400 4th
1987 11-6 .647 3-2 .600 3rd
1988 13-9 .591 3-4 .429 4th
1989 12-9-2 .565 2-4 .333 4th
1990 17-6 .739 4-1 .800 2nd
1991 11-8 .579 2-3 .400 4th
1992 12-7-1 .625 3-2 .600 3rd
1993 12-2 .857 4-1 .800 2nd
1994 8-7-1 .531 3-2 .600 3rd
1995 14-3 .824 3-2 .600 2nd
1996 8-4 .667 1-3 .250 4th
1997 11-3 .786 2-2 .500 3rd
1998 5-5-1 .500 1-3 .250 4th
1999 7-4 .636 2-2 .500 4th
2000 8-3 .727 2-2 .500 T2nd
2001 10-4 .714 1-3 .250 4th
2002 7-7 .500 0-4 .000 4th
Tot: 281-172-8 .620 52-61-1 .460
McHugh's Legacy in College Park:
*Hall of Fame's Lifetime Service Award for Coaching
*25-year Service Award
*1993 ACC Coach of the Year
*1990 ACC Coach of the Year
*Southeastern Pennsylvania Hall of Fame
*Coached seven All-Americans
*Coached 23 ACC champions
*Two-time ACC Champion as a wrestler at Maryland
*Reached NCAA semifinals
