Florida State women’s basketball head coach Brooke Wyckoff announced on Apr. 7 the hiring of Ronald Hughey as an assistant coach. Hughey, who has more than two decades of coaching experience and previously served as head coach at Houston, returns to Tallahassee with a background in recruiting and player development.
Wyckoff said, “I am thrilled to welcome Ronald Hughey back to Florida State. Having him join our staff is a significant step forward for our program. He brings extensive experience as both a head coach and one of the top assistant coaches in the country. He has unmatched energy and passion for the game, as well as a wealth of knowledge, especially on the defensive end, that will directly impact success on the court. He is an elite recruiter and developer of high-level talent. Most importantly, Coach Hughey is a relationship builder who invests greatly in the student-athletes and his colleagues. We are so excited for all that he will bring to our program.”
Hughey recently helped lead Virginia’s women’s basketball team to its first NCAA Tournament win since 2018 and an appearance in the Sweet 16 after advancing past three rounds including wins over Arizona State, Georgia, and Iowa.
Prior to his time at Virginia, Hughey was head coach at Houston from 2014 to 2025 after serving as an assistant under Sue Semrau at Florida State between 2012 and 2014. During those years with FSU, he contributed significantly to two consecutive NCAA Tournament second-round appearances while helping secure highly ranked recruiting classes featuring players such as Ivey Slaughter and Kai James.
Hughey’s influence continued even after leaving FSU; his recruited athletes were key contributors during Florida State’s Elite Eight runs in subsequent seasons. In addition to his tenure at Houston where he guided teams through four WNIT appearances with several all-conference selections, he also held coaching roles at Texas, UCF, Rutgers, South Carolina, and South Carolina State.
“I am super excited about being back at Florida State, a place I consider my second home,” said Hughey about returning to Tallahassee. “Words can’t express how I feel about Brooke, who I love and respect tremendously, to give me the opportunity to return to a place I love! Go Noles!”
