Rex Hughes

Hughes in 1975
Biographical details
Born	(1938-09-24)September 24, 1938
Died	May 9, 2016(2016-05-09) (aged 77) Nipomo, California, U.S.
Playing career
1959–1961	Pepperdine
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1963–1964	North Torrance HS (assistant)
1963–1968	Redondo HS
1968–1969	Long Beach CC
1969–1973	Nebraska (assistant)
1973–1974	USC (assistant)
1974–1978	Kent State
1978–1979	Montana Sky
1979–1981	UNLV (assistant)
1990–1992	Sacramento Kings (assistant)
1991–1992	Sacramento Kings
1992–1993	San Antonio Spurs (assistant)
1992–1993	San Antonio Spurs
1995–1997	Vancouver Grizzlies (assistant)
Accomplishments and honors
Records
NJCAA 23–5 .821 NCAA: 27–63 .300 NBA: 23–35 .397

Rex Hughes (September 24, 1938^[1] – May 9, 2016) was an American college and professional basketball coach. He coached men's basketball at Long Beach City College, Kent State University, and later served as a National Basketball Association (NBA) assistant coach. He served as head coach for part of a season with the Sacramento Kings, and a single game as an interim coach with the San Antonio Spurs. Hughes also worked in NBA scouting and basketball operations with the Kings, Atlanta Hawks and Orlando Magic.^[2] Hughes went to Redondo High School and played college basketball at Pepperdine.^[3][4]

Head Coaching Positions

In 1968–1969, Hughes was head coach at Long Beach City College, his first collegiate job after coaching in high school. His squad finished 23–5. When Hughes left to be an assistant at Nebraska, he was replaced by Lute Olson, in his first collegiate job.^[5][6]

Replacing Frank Truitt at Kent State University in 1974, Hughes' teams went 6–20, 12–14 and 8–19 over the next three seasons. The team started 1–10 in 1977–1978, when he was replaced by Mike Boyd.^[7]

In 1978–1979, Hughes was head coach and general manager of the Montana Sky (Great Falls, Montana) in the short-lived Western Basketball Association. The Sky were co-owned by country singer Charlie Pride. Notably, Hughes had Cazzie Russell and Brad Davis on the roster. Hughes was hired by the Sky mid-season when Coach Bill Klukas was fired after a 3–17 start. The league folded after one season.^{[8][9] [10]}

In 1991–1992 Hughes served as an assistant coach under Dick Motta with the Sacramento Kings and went 22–35 in 57 games, replacing Motta as head coach after Motta was fired.^[11][12][13]

In 1992–1993, Hughes was hired to serve as an assistant coach to Jerry Tarkanian with the San Antonio Spurs. However, just 20 games into the season at 9–11, Tarkanian was fired. Hughes was 1–0 as interim head coach before John Lucas (39–22) was hired.^[14]

Media

On March 4, 2009, Hughes became the 15th person in "The Rex Streak", a streak by radio talk show host Jim Rome of consecutive days interviewing someone named Rex.^[15]

Death

Hughes died on May 9, 2016, at the age of 77.^[16]