By Ivan Sitohang
After almost two months of searching, Peninsula College announced Jake Hughes as the new head coach of the Pirates Men Soccer Team.
Hughes fills an empty spot that previous head coach, Cale Rodriguez left back in January.
“It’s a great honor and pleasure of mine to get the job and be awarded the position. Playing here as a player, moving out to my next school and then coming back. Coming full circle as a coach gives me a unique perspective.”
Hughes was selected after winning the position against 34 other candidates. “Jake came in and won the job, he really did, he interviewed really well,” said Rick Ross, the Associate Dean of Athletics and Student Programs. “He was very professional and very prepared. He won over the interview committee and just flat out won the job.”
Despite coming from London, England, Hughes spent most of his soccer career in the United States.
He played for PC from 2010-2012, transferred to Adams State in Colorado before coming back to
PC again as the assistant coach for the men’s soccer team. And his spell in PC has been a success, “I won the Northwest Athletic Conference (NWAC) title as a player, I won the division title as a player. I won an NWAC title and division title as an assistant coach, and I want to do it as a head coach.”
Last year, the Pirate Men came up short in the playoff after a heartbreak- ing loss to the Tacoma Titans through a penalty shootout. The de- feat was painful and gave Hughes a lesson but he doesn’t foresee making many Hoku Afong goes in for the changes for the
tackle. coming season.
“I think the changes that we need to make is our mentality on the field, on the field when we face adversities, can we answer that adversity. I think in terms of structure, everything is set up for us to
be successful.”
As a Londoner, Hughes supports local club and
the current English Premier League leader, Chel- sea FC and looks up to some influential figures in soccer world like Frank Lampard, Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.
While in the U.S, Hughes’ previous coaches have significantly contributed to his journey as a player and coach.
“He obviously learned a lot from Cale Rodriguez, also from Andrew Chapman when Jake was a player and from Canyon when he’s assisting the woman team.
“So, I feel like Jake learned a lot from those coaches and probably will take bits and pieces of each of them into his own plan as a head coach,” Rick Ross said.
Jake Hughes debuted as the men’s head coach in exhibition matches against the Olympic Force and Seattle Stars. The Pirates won 3-1 and lost 1-2 respectively at the Rumble in the Rainforest. With the soccer season starting in fall, Hughes is currently on a search for new assistant coach and players.
(Photo by Ivan Sitohang)
