Acton Boxborough Colonial Club
Jack Hughes
Coach Jack Hughes was elected to the Massachusetts High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 2004. His ten year record of 157 wins and 57 losses amounts to a 73% winning percentage in a sport where being successful three out of ten times is considered outstanding. In those ten years Jack's hard ball nine won eight Dual County League Championships, one EMASS Sectional Championship, one State Semi-Finalist appearance.
Of the eight league championships the last seven from 1977 - 83 were consecutive. In those seven seasons, there was never a consecutive game losing streak. At that time, AB participated in the Division I Tournament despite Division II status at the request of their head coach. Jack's philosophy, "to be the best, you beat the best." Jack was a Division I Boston Globe Coach of the Year 1983 as well as National Coach of the Year that same season. For four years running Jack was a Lowell Sun Coach of the Year from 1979 to 1982. Jack was also an outstanding varsity football assistant coach. In both sports his attention to detail and preparation gave his student athletes a head start in any an all competitions. But, what was most apparent with Jack's coaching style and philosophy was that his teams would back down to no one. Feisty, fiery, ferocious, his teams constantly took the offensive. The umpires may not have loved him, but they respected him. The opposing coaches had best be prepared for any and all circumstances. His loyalty to his players is legendary. At once he was a friend, father figure, and field general. Every one of his players wanted Jack Hughes on their side. And they still do. And he still is As a teacher and administrator he carried on the level of excellence he exhibited on the playing fields. His community activities include a member of a local task force of the Governor's Alliance Against Drugs and Alcohol, and an active member of the Acton Lions Club. Jack resides in Acton and enjoys time with his wife Linda and their grown children Kara and Christopher.