Kansas State University Athletics
Baseball
- Title:
- Head Baseball Coach
Pete Hughes, the winningest active Big 12 head baseball coach, begins his seventh season at the helm of the Wildcats baseball program in 2025 after he was named the 21st head baseball coach in K-State history on June 8, 2018.
With 820 career victories, the most by any current Big 12 head coach and 13th amongst active NCAA Division I Power 4 head coaches, Hughes has a proven track record of setting new standards of excellence. Hughes has overseen 89 former student-athletes selected in the Major League Baseball Draft, including 25 taken in the first 10 rounds after four players were selected in the 2024 MLB Draft. In total, Hughes has recruited 143 players who were drafted and/or played professionally, including eight first-rounders.
He has developed and/or recruited 22 Major Leaguers during his collegiate coaching career, most recently left-hander Jordan Wicks of the Chicago Cubs, who made his MLB debut in August of 2023.
With 24 winning seasons in his 27 years as a head coach, including all six seasons in Manhattan, he has compiled a career record of 820-634-3 (.564). He began his head coaching career at Trinity University (1997-98) while also serving as the skipper at Boston College (1999-2006), Virginia Tech (2007-13) and Oklahoma (2014-17). He is the only active NCAA baseball coach to have served as a head coach at four Power 4 programs.
Twice named both the New England Coach of the Year and BIG EAST Coach of the Year, as well as the 2000 American Baseball Coaches Association Northeast Region Coach of the Year, Hughes owns a well-deserved reputation as a relentless worker, tireless recruiter, and charismatic leader.
In six seasons as the head coach of the Wildcats, Hughes has put together a 168-142 (.542) overall record, that includes a .708 winning percentage at home and five consecutive runs in the Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championships.
Under Hughes, K-State baseball has garnered five consecutive Wildcat Cup awards which honors teams for their excellence in the five core areas of student-athlete well-being: academics, athletics, career, personal and service. The 2024 team was named K-State’s Men’s Team of the Year, while three players received individual recognition by their peers – Kaelen Culpepper (Male Athlete of the Year), Nick English (Male Newcomer of the Year), and Jaden Parsons (Men’s Unsung Hero of the Year).
Last season, Hughes directed K-State to its sixth straight winning season with a 35-26 overall mark and the program’s first berth to the NCAA Tournament since 2013. Hughes led the Wildcats to the 2024 NCAA Charlottesville Super Regional after their sweep of the Fayetteville Regional, which included a 7-6 triumph over top-seeded and nationally-ranked fifth Arkansas. The 2024 squad also appeared in the all four final NCAA Division I baseball rankings: D1Baseball (14th), National College Baseball Writers’ Association (NCBWA) (16th), USA Today (21st), and Baseball America (22nd).
The K-State pitching staff, paced fifth-round draft selection Jackson Wentworth, ended the season 19th in the nation with a record-breaking 590 total strikeouts. With 115 strikeouts on the year, the righty finished 18th in the nation in total punchouts followed by left-hander Owen Boerema, who finished seven spots behind nationally with 110. Jacob Frost and Wentworth combined for the K-State’s first no-hitter since 1991, blanking Cincinnati 4-0 in the 2024 Big 12 opener.
Offensively, the Wildcats finished in the Top 25 nationally in total stolen bases (137), stolen bases per game (2.25), triples (18), and walks (321). K-State’s 137 stolen bases finished ninth in the nation, while it was second in the single-season school records.
The 2024 Wildcats featured All-American shortstop Kaelen Culpepper, who went on to become the second first-rounder in school history after he was selected 21st overall by the Minnesota Twins in the 2024 MLB Draft. A three-time All-Big 12 selection, Culpepper capped his collegiate career leading K-State in hits (80), batting average (.328), slugging percentage (.574), home runs (11), and triples (6).
In the regional opener, Culpepper became just the fourth player in K-State history to hit for the cycle, joining Ross Kivett (2014), Heath Schesser (1997), and Craig Wilson (1992). The junior from Memphis, Tenn., tripled in the second, singled in the sixth, doubled in the seventh, and homered in his fifth at-bat, to complete the cycle.
A total of five K-State players were chosen in the 2024 MLB Draft, including four taken in the first 10 rounds. In addition to Culpepper, the Cats draft picks included right-hander Tyson Neighbors (fourth-round, No. 118 overall), right-hander Jackson Wentworth (fifth-round), second baseman Brady Day (10th-round), and outfielder Brendan Jones (12th-round).
The emergence of Brady Day and Brendan Jones also highlighted the 2024 season, as they were just two of three players to play and start in all 61 games. Day, who produced a team-best and career-high 18-game hitting streak, was named to the 2024 Golden Spikes Midseason Watch List. Jones was named a 2024 ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove Finalist, as the junior turned in a .994 fielding percentage with 156 putouts and just one error on the year. The duo finished first and eighth in the Big 12 in total walks with Jones’ conference-leading 55 walks tied the single-season program record.
The Wildcats' nine All-Big 12 selections in 2024 matched the program record that was set in 2013, while K-State was one of five schools from the Big 12 to have nine or more players receive All-Big 12 honors.
In 2023, K-State turned in a 35-24 mark, its highest win total since posting 45 in 2013, including a program record 14 road victories. Hughes guided the Wildcats to their first Big 12 series sweep since 2013 with the program’s first home sweep over Oklahoma since 1990 along with the highest scoring game in series history against KU with K-State winning 21-18.
The 2023 team was one of just three teams in the country that walked over 300 times, hit over 75 home runs, and stole over 100 bases. Offensively, his team batted .270 as a team and averaged just under seven runs per game and hit 77 home runs. In the past three seasons, the Cats have registered the top three home run marks in school history – 89 (2021), 84 (2022), and 77 (2023). Three players had double figure home runs led by Roberto Pena with 15 to tie second in the single-season records. The Cats plate discipline generated 340 walks which marked the first 300-plus season since 1997.
At the 2023 Phillips 66 Big 12 Baseball Championship, Hughes led the Cats to their first conference tournament shutout since 1976 in a 7-0 defeat over No. 20 Texas, before taking down school rival KU to advance to the semifinals. Seven players received All-Big 12 recognition with Tyson Neighbors, Owen Boerema, Nick Goodwin, Kaelen Culpepper, Brady Day, Brendan Jones, and Raphael Pelletier.
Neighbors became just the second Wildcat is school history to earn consensus All-American honors and was a First Team All-Big 12 selection and led the league with 11 saves. He set school season class records in saves along with a record setting 1.85 ERA (10 ER, 48.2 IP) as a sophomore pitcher. He also broke the program's TrackMan-era pitch velocity record at 99-mph in the series opening win against No. 14 Texas Tech (April 28).
Neighbors was named NCBWA Stopper of the Year Finalist as he held opponents to a .135 batting average. In 25 outings with 86 strikeouts. The Royse City, Texas product was one of just two relievers from the Big 12 to rank in the Top 10 in total strikeouts in league standings.
In 40 games, Culpepper turned in a career-best slash line of .325/.423/.576 with 10 home runs and 41 RBI. He was just one of three Wildcats to reach double digit homers while his slugging percentage led the Cats' offense and was second in batting average.
Culpepper and Neighbors became just the second and third players in school history to compete for Team USA as they each received an invitation to the Collegiate National Team Training Camp. The duo earned positions on Team USA to compete against Chinese Tei Pei and Japan. A two-time All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection, Culpepper was the top slugger for Team USA last summer as he led the Red, White, and Blue with a .471 batting average and slugging percentage of .853. In four appearances, Neighbors allowed just three hits with four strikeouts during his 3 2/3 innings in relief for Team USA. He made two appearances during the national training camp where he struck out five batters during two hitless innings.
Goodwin was named a Brooks Wallace Award Semifinalist by the College Baseball Foundation, which recognizes the nation’s top shortstop. The Overland, Park native, who was one of three players from the Big 12 to make list, was the third Wildcat to be named a semifinalist joining Drew Biery in 2009 and Austin Fisher in 2013. Goodwin started in all 173 games at shortstop since taking the field in 2021, totaling 33 career home runs, producing double figure blasts during each season.
Two players were selected to the MLB’s First-Year Player Draft with Goodwin (Toronto Blue Jays -7th round (No. 214 overall)) and Day (Atlanta Braves – 12th (No. 369 overall)). Goodwin became the fifth Wildcat to be picked in the top 10 rounds over the last five seasons. The duo increases Hughes’ career draft total to 84 over his 25-year career, including 10 while at K-State.
In 2022, Hughes guided the Wildcats to their second consecutive appearance in the league postseason tournament and third in the last four years. The Cats claimed four victories over Top 10 teams including a pair of series wins over No. 7 Texas.
The Wildcats bullpen registered the second-best performance in school history with 540 strikeouts, averaging 9.6 strikeouts-per-nine innings. Hughes has overseen three of the top five strikeout seasons in program history after a program record 541 in 2021 and 448 in 2019.
On April 2, 2022, Dylan Phillips launched two home runs against Oklahoma State to become K-State’s all-time home run leader, breaking the previous mark that stood since 1997. Phillips hit 13 home runs in his senior campaign to mark his third double-digit home run season, totaling 44 in his career.
Three players were selected to the MLB’s First-Year Player Draft with Phillips (Los Angeles Angels), Blake Adams (Colorado Rockies) and Dominic Johnson (Detroit Tigers). Phillips became the fourth Wildcat to be picked in the top 10 rounds over the last four seasons.
During his third season, Hughes’ Wildcats claimed series off a pair of top-10 teams in No. 3 Texas Tech and No. 5 TCU, upping his K-State total to four series victories against ranked opponents. The Cats totaled six wins over top-10 squads during the 2021 campaign, which are the most on record in K-State history. Hughes has totaled 13 victories over top-25 teams while at K-State.
His 2021 team saw records fall both at the plate and on the mound. The Wildcat offense launched a program-record 89 home runs, smashing the previous mark of 75 set in 1997. Dylan Phillips matched the single-season home run record with 16 while Zach Kokoska tallied 15 to lead four Wildcats with double-digit homers. The 89 home runs ranked 11th in the country.
Freshman infielder Nick Goodwin connected for 10 home runs during his freshman all-America season, tying Phillips’ freshman record set in 2019.
The pitching staff racked up 541 strikeouts, breaking the previous record by nearly 100 (453) while the 9.9 strikeout-per-nine innings smashed the previous mark of 8.6 set in 1969.
Friday night starter Jordan Wicks produced a single-season record 118 punchouts in 2021 on his way to becoming K-State’s all-time strikeout leader, finishing his career with 230 strikeouts in less than two and a half seasons. Wicks became the first Wildcat to ever be selected in the first round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, as he was taken by the Chicago Cubs with the 21st overall pick.
Wicks was among four Cats who heard their named called during the 2021 MLB Draft, all within the first 15 rounds. Right-handed pitcher Carson Seymour was taken by the New York Mets in the sixth round, outfielder Zach Kokoska was selected in the 10th round by the Colorado Rockies and Eric Torres was picked by the Los Angeles Angels in the 14th round.
Hughes’ second season came to a screeching to a halt in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic after just 17 games. K-State had won seven of its last nine games, including taking three of four during a road series at perennial power Stanford.
Over 17 games, the Wildcat pitching staff ranked sixth in the nation in ERA (2.07), fifth in WHIP (1.01) and fourth in hits per nine innings (5.6). The Cats were one of just two teams in the country to allow only one home run during the season.
Wicks, the 2019 Big 12 Freshman of the Year and 2021 Preseason Big 12 Co-Pitcher of the Year, started the 2020 season without allowing an earned run in his first 24 2/3 innings. The lefty finished the season with a 0.35 ERA, best among Big 12 starters and 10th among all pitchers in the nation.
Offensively, K-State hit 13 home runs in 17 games, led by five from Phillips. Phillips, along with Terrence Spurlin, led the club with 18 RBI. Over the final nine games, K-State averaged 8.7 runs per game while launching nine home runs with a team average of .327.
In his first season at the helm of the Wildcats, Hughes led K-State to a berth in the 2019 Big 12 Championship - its first conference postseason bid since 2016. K-State finished with a 25-33 record (8-16 Big 12), including series victories over then-No. 14 Texas and No. 19 TCU.
Hughes’ initial campaign held many highlights, including seven victories over top-25 opponents, K-State’s highest total since 2011 and more than the previous three seasons combined. The Cats’ consecutive series wins over the Longhorns and Horned Frogs marked the first time in program history K-State defeated ranked teams in consecutive series.
K-State’s offense launched 54 home runs in 2019, its highest total since the 2009 season. Chris Ceballos and Phillips each hit 10 homers, as Phillips broke a K-State freshman record that stood since 1994. The Wildcat offense produced a stretch of 14 consecutive games with at least one home run - the program’s longest in the Big 12 era and the longest of any Division I program during the 2019 season.
On the mound, Wicks took home Big 12 Freshman of the Year honors and went on to be named a 2019 Freshman All-America by D1Baseball.com and Collegiate Baseball. He became just the second Wildcat to earn conference freshman-of-the-year accolades and first since 2013 (Jake Matthys). Wicks broke program freshman records with 84 2/3 innings pitched and 86 strikeouts, both of which had stood since 1973.
The K-State pitching staff racked up 448 strikeouts, the third-highest single-season total in program history and just four shy of the all-time record. The Cats tossed consecutive road shutouts (at Texas on April 14, at Nebraska on April 16) - the first consecutive shutouts since 2008 and back-to-back road shutouts since the 1967 season.
Wicks was one of five Wildcats to earn All-Big 12 accolades at the end of the 2019 season, joined by Griffin Hassall (Freshman), Zach Kokoska (Honorable Mention), Caleb Littlejim (Honorable Mention) Terrence Spurlin (Honorable Mention) and Cameron Thompson (Honorable Mention). K-State also tallied seven Academic All-Big 12 selections in Hughes’ first season.
Hughes has made a name for himself within the community throughout his career, starting with his 19 Ways Foundation which he has taken with him at every coaching stop. During each of his four fall seasons at K-State, the Wildcats have led the country in money raised for the annual College Baseball Vs. Cancer campaign, the signature fundraising campaign of the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.
The Wildcats raised over $38,000 during both the 2020 and 2021 fall seasons, claiming their fourth consecutive national fundraising title. K-State players and staff have combined to raise over $130,000 to help combat childhood cancer in Hughes’ time in Manhattan. While at Oklahoma, his teams raised over $80,000 to fight childhood cancer through the Vs. Cancer Foundation and the OU Children’s hospital.
Following the 2018-19 academic year, Hughes’ team earned the Wildcat Cup Trophy at the Powercat Choice Awards, voted on by the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for excellence in the five core area of student-athlete well-being: academics, athletics, career, personal and service.
AT GEORGIA
Hughes came to Manhattan after spending the 2018 season at the volunteer assistant coach at Georgia, where he helped the Bulldogs earn a national seed in the NCAA Tournament. Primarily working with the team’s infielders, Hughes elevated UGA’s defense from the bottom of the SEC in 2017 to 10th-best in the nation in his one season in Athens.
AT OKLAHOMA
In 2017, the Sooners registered a 35-24 mark and advanced to the NCAA Tournament as a No. 2 seed in the Louisville Regional. Hughes collected a 128-1074-1 (.544) record in four seasons at the helm of the Sooners.
In his final season as the OU skipper, Hughes tutored 10 players that were honored with Big 12 annual awards – the most in program history – including Brylie Ware who was named the Big 12 Co-Newcomer of the Year and earned a spot on the All-Big 12 First Team along with outfielder Steele Walker.
AT VIRGINIA TECH
Inheriting a Virginia Tech club in 2007 that had not reached the NCAA Tournament since 2000, Hughes went on to lead the Hokies to five straight 30-win seasons, including a pair of 40-win seasons that culminated with berths in the NCAA Tournament in 2010 and 2013, the latter marking the school’s first-ever selection as a regional host site. Hughes compiled a 222-174 (.561) record in seven seasons at Virginia Tech.
AT BOSTON COLLEGE
Hughes produced an even more remarkable turnaround at Boston College, as he took over a program that had averaged just 13 wins a year over the previous 35 seasons. The Golden Eagles finished 17-23-1 the year prior to his arrival in 1998 and, two seasons later, the team registered an 18-game improvement as it finished 35-20 and qualified for the program’s second-ever appearance in the BIG EAST Tournament. In 2005, he guided BC to a school-record 37 victories.
Averaging 31 wins a season while at Boston College, Hughes owned a career mark of 250-181-2 (.580) as the Eagles’ skipper. He coached 37 all-conference selections while at Boston College, including Jared McGuire who was named 2005 BIG EAST Player of the Year.
EARLY COACHING CAREER
Hughes began his coaching career at Hamilton College in New York in 1990-91, serving as an assistant in football and was the top assistant and recruiting coordinator for baseball. He continued in that dual role at Northeastern University in Boston from the fall of 1991 until the spring of 1996 when he landed the head baseball coaching position at Trinity.
PLAYING CAREER
Hughes is a 1990 graduate of Davidson College where he played third base on the baseball team and quarterback for the Wildcats’ football team. He was captain of the baseball team as a senior and graduated that year with a Bachelor of Arts in sociology/anthropology.
PERSONAL
A native of Brockton, Massachusetts, Hughes and his wife Debby have five children: Thomas, Hal, Dominic, Grace and P.J. Thomas finished his collegiate career at K-State in 2019 after also playing at Oklahoma and is currently the team’s assistant coach. Dom is an outfielder at K-State and Hal, an infielder, finished his career at Rice in 2022, while P.J. is committed to Richmond.
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING ABOUT PETE HUGHES:
“I couldn’t be happier for Pete Hughes and his family. He sacrificed a lot to join our program and made a huge impact here at Georgia. Kansas State is getting one heck of a baseball coach and a better person. They are getting a coach that will work tirelessly with their players on and off the field and will help bring the Wildcat baseball program back to prominence."
-Scott Stricklin, Georgia head baseball coach
“I have known Pete Hughes since he was the coach at Boston College and I was at Notre Dame. During that time, I grew to respect Pete as an outstanding coach, competitor, and molder of young men. His teams have always played with great passion and energy. The players at Kansas State will be taught to play the game the right way and will represent the university with great class – because Pete will demand nothing less. He is a tireless worker in recruiting as well as working with the players on the field. He will not stop until the job is done.”
-Paul Mainieri, LSU head baseball coach
“Pete Hughes is an outstanding coach, recruiter and leader. His teams are always fundamentally sound and relentless competitors. I am so happy for him and his family.”
-Dan Hall, Georgia Tech head baseball coach
“I got to know Pete during his time at Boston College and Virginia Tech where he established himself as a program developer, proven leader in player development, terrific recruiter and most importantly a friend. I’m happy for him and the Kansas State baseball community. This is a great hire and I look forward to seeing the success he’ll have in Manhattan.”
-Brian O’Connor, Virginia head baseball coach
YEAR-BY-YEAR RECORDS:
| Year | School | Record | Postseason |
| 1997 | Trinity | 19-19 | |
| 1998 | Trinity | 33-11 | |
| 1999 | Boston College | 26-21-1 | |
| 2000 | Boston College | 35-20 | |
| 2001 | Boston College | 29-22 | |
| 2002 | Boston College | 30-25 | |
| 2003 | Boston College | 33-21 | |
| 2004 | Boston College | 32-27 | |
| 2005 | Boston College | 37-20 | |
| 2006 | Boston College | 28-25-1 | |
| 2007 | Virginia Tech | 23-31 | |
| 2008 | Virginia Tech | 23-32 | |
| 2009 | Virginia Tech | 32-21 | |
| 2010 | Virginia Tech | 40-22 | NCAA Regional |
| 2011 | Virginia Tech | 30-25 | |
| 2012 | Virginia Tech | 34-21 | |
| 2013 | Virginia Tech | 40-22 | NCAA Regional |
| 2014 | Oklahoma | 29-29 | |
| 2015 | Oklahoma | 34-27 | |
| 2016 | Oklahoma | 30-27-1 | |
| 2017 | Oklahoma | 35-24 | NCAA Regional |
| 2019 | K-State | 25-33 | |
| 2020 | K-State | 10-7 | |
| 2021 | K-State | 34-23 | |
| 2022 | K-State | 29-29 | |
| 2023 | K-State | 35-24 | |
| 2024 | K-State | 35-26 | NCAA Super Regional |
| Total | 27 Years | 820-634-3 (.564) | 4 NCAA Regionals 1 NCAA Super Regional |
The Hughes File
| PERSONAL INFORMATION |
|---|
| Born: January 11, 1968 in Brockton, Mass. |
| High School: Boston College High School, Boston, Mass. |
| College: Davidson College B.A. in Sociology/Anthropology, 1990 |
| Spouse: Debby |
| Children Thomas, Hal, Dominic, Grace, P.J. |
| PLAYING EXPERIENCE |
|---|
| Davidson College, 1986-90 Baseball and Football |
| COACHING CAREER |
|---|
| Asst. Baseball Coach/Asst. Football Coach Hamilton College (Clinton, N.Y.) 1990-91 |
| Asst. Baseball Coach/Asst. Football Coach Northeastern Univ. (Boston, Mass.) 1991-96 |
| Head Baseball Coach Trinity Univ. (San Antonio, Texas) 1997-98 |
| Head Baseball Coach Boston College, 1999-2006 |
| Head Baseball Coach Virginia Tech, 2007-13 |
| Head Baseball Coach Oklahoma, 2013-17 |
| Volunteer Assistant Georgia, 2018 |
| Head Baseball Coach K-State, 2019-pres. |
| COACHING HIGHLIGHTS |
|---|
| 2024 NCAA Super Regional (K-State) |
| 2017 NCAA Regional (Oklahoma) |
| 2013 NCAA Regional, Host (Virginia Tech) |
| 2010 NCAA Regional (Virginia Tech) |
| 2005 New England Coach of the Year |
| 2002 BIG EAST Coach of the Year |
| 2000 New England Coach of the Year |
| 2000 BIG EAST Coach of the Year |
| 2000 ABCA Northeast Coach of the Year |
| BY THE NUMBERS |
|---|
| 89 MLB Draft picks |
| 25 Top-10 round picks |
| 8 First Round Draft picks |
| 101 All-Conference selections |
| 26 All-District selections |
| 9 All-Americans |
| 7 Freshman All-Americans |
| 4 NCAA Regional berths |
| 1 NCAA Super Regional |
| 86 Academic All-Big 12 selections |
| 24 seasons .500 or better |
