WARRENSBURG, Mo. – The UCM Multipurpose Building was renamed to the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center, and former longtime UCM Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics, the late Jerry Hughes, was inducted into the UCM Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, February 17.
Hughes, who served as UCM's Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics for 40 years (1983-2023) before passing away in January 2023, was the lone inductee in the UCM Athletic Hall of Fame 2024 induction class.
Under Hughes's leadership, Central Missouri won 179 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association championships and 10 national championships, in addition to having 50 other top-four NCAA finishes and making more than 300 NCAA postseason appearances.
In addition to his success directing athletics at Central Missouri, Hughes held multiple leadership positions in Division II governance, including serving on the NCAA Executive Committee (when that body oversaw all three divisions) and as chair of the Division II Championships Committee. He also served a term as NCAA vice president of Division II and was a member of the NCAA Council (both before the NCAA federated its governance structure in 1997), making him the only person to twice hold the highest-ranking office available to athletics administrators in Division II. After federation, Hughes chaired the Division II Management Council.
Hughes was most recently honored with the 2023 NCAA Division II 50th Anniversary Gold Award, an award given to an individual who made a lasting and positive impact on all of NCAA Division II.
Hughes graduated from Central Missouri in 1971 with a bachelor's degree in physical education, having lettered in golf during his undergraduate studies, and he received his master's degree in secondary school administration from the university in 1979. He joined Central Missouri that same year as a business placement director and became assistant athletics director in July 1981. He was named athletics director in January 1983.
The UCM Board of Governors unanimously approved the renaming of the Multipurpose Building to the Jerry M. Hughes Athletics Center in August 2023.
The building opened its doors in 1976 and has helped Mules and Jennies basketball, and Jennies volleyball enjoy one of the best home court advantages in all of NCAA Division II. Jennies volleyball has an impressive record of 406-58 since 1988 while Mules basketball is a stellar 555-128 since 1976 and Jennies basketball is an outstanding 533-119 since 1976.
Mules wrestling and Mules and Jennies track & field also call the facility home and have posted numerous milestones while competing inside the friendly confines of the Multipurpose Building.
