Libby Hughes ’14 returned to her alma mater to serve as the interim assistant coach for the Heron rowing team in December 2014. After leading the novice eight to a pair of medal-winning performances, the interim tag was removed clearing the way for her to return as William Smith's assistant rowing coach in 2015-16.
In Hughes' first season without the interim tag, 2016, the Herons won their sixth consecutive Liberty League Championship and the Liberty League's first automatic berth in the NCAA Rowing Championship. The Herons won the novice crew of the year in 2015 and 2017.
After six months as a rowing coach at Radnor High School in Pennsylvania, Hughes returned to William Smith to coach the novices through the 2015 spring season. She helped the novice eight capture a gold medal at the Liberty League Championships, a silver medal at the New York State Championships, and place fifth finish at the ECAC National Invitational Rowing Championships. That crew was voted the Liberty League Novice Crew of the Year, marking the eighth consecutive year the Herons have won the award.
As a student at William Smith, Hughes competed in the varsity eight in each of her four seasons on campus, splitting time in the second varsity eight as a first-year and sophomore. She competed in four straight NCAA Championships, finishing third in the varsity eight as a junior. Also in 2013, Hughes and her crewmates earned a bronze medal at the ECAC National Invitational Rowing Championships. She earned three consecutive gold medals at both the New York State Championships and the Liberty League Championships, helping the 2V in 2012 before moving up to the 1V in 2013 and 2014.
Following both her junior and senior seasons, Hughes and the rest of the Heron varsity eight were voted the Liberty League Crew of the Year. She was also the recipient of the 2014 Marion Harrison Greene ’20 Award, which is presented to a William Smith senior student-athlete whose accomplishments made a significant impact on her team and Heron Athletics. Hughes was a part of 19 Liberty League Boat of the Week award winning crews.
As a member of the Vesper Boat Club lightweight 4x, Hughes finished second at the U.S. Trials for the 2014 U23 World Championships. A year earlier, she finished third in the lightweight single scull at the U.S. Trials for the U23 World Championships.
In addition to her success at the U23 U.S. Trials, Hughes captured six gold medals with the Vesper Boat Club in 2014, earning two at the Canadian Henley, two in the Independence Day Regatta, one at Club Nationals, and one at the Head of the Schuylkill.
Originally from Orient N.Y., Hughes came to William Smith from the Emma Willard School where she was a three-year varsity letter winner and two-time team captain. As a rower there, she captured the 2009 SRAA National Championship in the Varsity 2. She also won the 2009 & 2010 New York State Championship in the Varsity 2x, as well as two Section II Championships.
Hughes graduated from William Smith with a bachelor's degree in architectural studies.
