HARTFORD, Conn. - Trinity College is excited to announce the addition of Erin Hughes as Assistant Women's Basketball Coach for the 2024-25 season, announced by Trinity College Director of Athletics Drew Galbraith.
 
Erin Hughes joins the Trinity College Women's Basketball program after serving as an assistant coach at Washington & Lee for three seasons. During her three seasons at Washington & Lee, Hughes helped guide the Generals to a 71-17 record, including a 49-5 mark in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC), with a pair of ODAC Championships and a trio of trips to the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball National Championship Tournament.
 
"We are thrilled to have Erin join our staff," said Trinity College Head Women's Basketball Coach Maria Williamson. "She's smart, dynamic and energetic. She will add great on-court knowledge and has an incredible passion for teaching the game. Erin is a great connector with a growth mindset and is one of the top up and coming assistants. We can't wait for her to be a Bantam!"
 
During the 2023-24 season, the Generals set the program record for wins in a season, going 29-5 with a 17-1 record in conference play. Washington & Lee won 25 of 27 games to close out the season, rattling off a program-high 14-game win streak that included a second straight ODAC Championship and a run to the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball National Championship Quarterfinals.
 
"I am so grateful for the opportunity to represent Trinity as the next assistant women's basketball coach," said Hughes. "I am thrilled to work with Coach Williamson and to coach such an incredible group of young women. I continue to be impressed by Trinity's commitment to sustaining excellence and building community." 
 
Hughes was recognized as a Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) 2023-24 Thirty Under 30 honoree, which recognizes 30 up-and-coming women's basketball coaches aged 30 years and under at all levels of the game. Each honoree has exemplified their involvement in community service, mentorship and impact on others, professional manner, and attitude and professional association involvement.
 
Hughes received the exclusive distinction as a 2023 Fellow of the Tara Vanderveer Fund for the Advancement of Women in Coaching, earning a grant from the Women's Sports Foundation (WSF). Grants were awarded to institutions to support collegiate women coaches on the rise, assisting with living expenses, professional development and mentorship. W&L is one of 10 universities and colleges to receive the grants, which are designated for women coaching fellows in a wide variety of women's sports. The Fund has seen success and has made an impact during its short lifespan. Out of the first four classes, 25 VanDerveer Fellows continue to lead in coaching roles, six have stepped into head coaching positions and four have used their fellowship experience to secure jobs in a sports-related field.

Hughes is a graduate of the 2022 NCAA Women Coaches Academy. The NCAA Women Coaches Academy, hosted in partnership between WeCOACH and the NCAA, is a multi-day growth and development program available to NCAA coaches of all experience levels, designed for women coaches who are ready to increase their individual effectiveness by learning advanced skills and strategies that directly affect their personal and team success. Hughes also participated in the NCAA Academy 2.0 in Denver in 2024.
 
Hughes joined the Washington & Lee coaching staff following an impressive four-year career on the women's basketball team. A two-year team captain, Hughes helped the program to a record of 59-30 (.663) and an ODAC Championship appearance in 2019. Hughes was a three-time ODAC All-Conference selection, including a pair of First Team honors, and earned the ODAC's first-ever Defensive Player of the Year award in 2019. Hughes is the only player in program history to rank in the Top 10 in program history in career steals and blocks, and ranks 13^th all-time in points with 1,027. As a sophomore, Hughes set the program's single-season record for steals with 77. A 2021 CoSIDA Academic All-District selection, Hughes was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, and was named the ODK National Leader of the Year for Athletics in May 2021.

Hughes graduated from Washington & Lee with a Bachelor's degree in cognitive & behavioral sciences, with minors in women, gender & sexuality studies and poverty & human capability.