Huntingdon’s Pugh to retire at end of 2016-17 season

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Huntingdon head men's basketball coach Mike Pugh announced on Monday that the 2016-17 season will be his final season.

The 65-year-old Pugh recently completed his ninth season with the Hawks and his 40th season overall.

"I just feel like it's time," Pugh said. "I've been doing this for 40 years in the state of Alabama at the college and high school level. The Lord has been really good to me and this just seems like the right time.

"I want to do some other things. I have grandkids I want to spend more time with. It may sound like a cliché, but I want to be able to spend more time with my family and friends."

Pugh has averaged better than 16 wins a year during his 40 seasons in the college and high school ranks. In nine seasons at Huntingdon, he has guided the Hawks to one conference title and two conference runner-up finishes.

"We would like to thank coach Pugh for his service to Huntingdon College, and wish him well during his retirement," Huntingdon Director of Athletics Mike Turk said. "We would also like to thank him for continuing to serve Huntingdon as we transition our men's basketball program into the next phase. This is a fitting way for us to recognize and celebrate a tremendous career as a basketball coach and mentor to many, many student athletes over the years."

In Huntingdon's conference championship season in 2011, the Hawks beat LaGrange 77-72 in overtime at Roland Arena to win the Great South Athletic Conference title. The Hawks were the GSAC runner-up to Maryville in 2009 and the USA South Athletic Conference runner-up to LaGrange in 2014.

"The conference championship was a big thrill and the fact that we got to play it here at Huntingdon made it even better," Pugh said. "We've competed for the conference championship two other times. So, those times have been good.

"That team in 2010-11 was special. They were a great group of kids, they bought into what I wanted to do and they worked extremely hard. I'll always remember that."

At Huntingdon, Pugh has coached 10 All-Conference selections and 23 All-Academic selections. In 2009, senior Jeremy Pittman was named GSAC Player of the Year, first-team All-Region by D3hoops.com and first-team All-District by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.