By Andrew Petropulos
Last year, the Springfield College wrestling team lost two graduate assistant coaches, Joey Parsons and Jared Swartz. Stepping in to fill that gap this season is William Hughes. Hughes grew up in New Jersey and began wrestling in first grade.
He competed throughout his undergraduate years at Johnson & Wales in Providence, R.I., but uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic — and later an injury — pushed him toward coaching as a way to stay involved with the sport.
“Really during COVID I started coaching,” Hughes said. “Then I had a year where I got injured and wasn’t able to compete, and my coach wanted me to stay involved. So I started helping out at a local youth program.”
Although he studied exercise science with the intention of working in fitness, coaching gradually became the clearer path.
“I graduated with a degree in health science and thought I wanted to go the strength and conditioning route,” Hughes said. “I started working at a private gym in Foxborough and kept coaching on the side, first youth, and then the year after that I coached at St. Sebastian’s in Needham.”
What ultimately pulled him away from strength and conditioning was the immediacy of coaching: the ability to influence athletes in the moment rather than over long developmental arcs.
“Strength and conditioning is awesome, and we have a great program for it,” Hughes said. “All the guys that work with our team do an amazing job, but it’s very long-term in development. The role is super important, but I like being on the side of the mat and getting to make those real-time adjustments.”
Culture, however, was the decisive factor that drew Hughes to Springfield.
“When I came out here to interview with Coach Holder and saw the school, I didn’t know how beautiful the campus was,” Hughes said. “Seeing how much the whole athletic administration — from Dr. Poisson to people in social media to other coaches — connects is what brought me in.”
The wrestling team is led by Jason Holder, now in his 15th season at Springfield. Graduate assistant Ryan Peters, a former Pride wrestler and current master’s student, joined the staff last year. Between Holder, Peters and Hughes, athletes are exposed to a range of styles and perspectives.
“We all alternate running practices each day,” Hughes said. “Wrestling is one of those cool things where through your journey you meet a lot of people and learn a lot of different techniques. I hope through my journey, and what I’ve learned, I’ll be able to pass it on to these guys.”
As a first-year coach at Springfield, Hughes emphasizes a philosophy rooted equally in technical development and relationship-building. His background in exercise science informs his approach, but he believes personal connection is what allows any of that technical work to take hold.
“The first step I’ve noticed in any coaching role is that they’ve got to like you,” Hughes said. “You’re not going to listen to a coach or teacher you don’t trust. So it’s building the relationship first before trying to come in and get wrapped up in details.”
The Pride qualified for the NCAA national tournament last year and finished the season 12–5. They opened this season strong with a win over rival Western New England. As the schedule progresses, postseason goals have already begun to surface.
“I think we’re ranked fifth in the conference, and the goal is to crack into that top three,” Hughes said. “That’s a lofty goal. There are a lot of really tough teams in front of us—Johnson & Wales, Coast Guard, Castleton and Williams. They’re all really strong. But you’ve got to set lofty goals and keep moving towards them.”
After a series of winter tournaments, the Pride will compete in the Northeast Regional Championships in late February. Springfield College’s largest home event, the Doug Parker Invitational, is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 22.
(Photo courtesy of Springfield College Athletics)