Hughes looks to build relationships, and wins, at Providence Academy

JOHNSON CITY — Relationships matter to Micah Hughes. He plans to build plenty of them at Providence Academy. The 36-year-old Hughes was recently hired as the new head football coach for the Knights, replacing Daniel Kilgore, who left to become the offensive coordinator at Dobyns-Bennett. "I told him we're not trying to come in here and shake things up. I think we are just trying to come in here and take it to another level," said Hughes, who spent the last three seasons as head coach at Mt. Bethel Christian Academy in Marietta, Ga. "He has done a phenomenal job laying the foundation. That has given us the platform to come in and take it to new heights and a new level and I was just super excited about that." A graduate of Boyd-Buchanan High School and Liberty University, Hughes started the program at Mt. Bethel, posting an 18-2 record over the last two seasons after one year of junior varsity action. "I have done a lot so I have met a lot of people and built a lot of relationships," said Hughes, a native of Chattanooga, who has coached at four schools in Tennessee (Boyd-Buchanan, Baylor School, Sale Creek, Clarksville Academy) and two in Georgia (Ridgeland, Mt. Bethel). "Football, and all of this is a relationship business so I love building relationships, not only with the kids, but with the families, with the administration and the teachers in the building. "I am a big relational person and that is something that is very important to me." Close friends with former Tri-Cities Christian head coach Jeremy Bosken and East Tennessee State head coach Will Healy, Hughes got his first experience with Providence Academy playing against the Knights while at Mt. Bethel in 2024 in a game played at ETSU. "That is kind of where I got to know Coach Kilgore, got to see the community and really kind of fell in love with the environment during that game," said Hughes, who will teach World History at Providence. "It was just the people, and I got to talk to Coach Kilgore a lot and became friends with him. Just seeing what they wanted and they were hungry to be successful in football and they want to do that so it was really a neat opportunity when I got offered the job." Hughes, who plans to move his family to Johnson City next week, was hired in late-May and has held practices three nights a week in June, in addition to participating in a 7-on-7 passing camp at ETSU. He has around 35 attending workouts, and thinks that number could grow into the 40s by recruiting the hallways. "I prefer the small private school for football just because I feel like you can get to know kids and build relationships with them, they are not just another number," said Hughes, whose staff is a mixture of local coaches, in addition to a co-defensive coordinator with college experience from Michigan. "You can really build deep personal relationships with these kids based off the smaller roster sizes. "I know that poses issues with certain people, but to me it has been really good. I really truly get to know the kids and our coaches get to know the kids and we are able to really build deep-rooted relationships with them." Expect the Knights to be fun to watch. Offensively, Mt. Bethel was 75 percent spread last season, which included a win against the prestigious IMG Academy second team in Florida, but it could be a little more balanced this season due to talented running backs on the roster. Defensively, the Knights will be multiple in scheme and will send lots of pressure to force opposing offenses into quick and uncomfortable decisions. "I like to say it is a fast-paced brand of football, it is an exciting brand of football because I think that is what pulls kids out in your school. It helps to build your roster," said Hughes, who is spending this weekend as an event leader at a middle school football camp in Colorado, with an all-star game slated for Sunday. "I like to say it is kind of like playing basketball on turf. We are going to get after it that way." Providence, which finished 4-6 last season, will open its campaign on Aug. 21 by traveling to face Twin Springs, with the home opener slated for Aug. 28 against Franklin Christian. "I think from a schedule standpoint, I think if we can stay healthy, we definitely have the opportunity to win some games and do some special things," said Hughes, who has been impressed by the senior leadership overseeing what is a relatively young team. "That is something I have talked to the kids about, they seem to have bought into the process that we have in place. "I told them if they would do that and trust what our staff is doing, we have got the opportunity to really, really shock some people and win some big games." Expect to see plenty of Hughes' wife, Samantha, who will serve as cheerleading coach with 9-year-old Hollis part of that squad, while 8-year-old Holden will be involved in youth and flag football for the Knights. "It really truly is a family affair and that is one thing that I want our players to see is myself and our coaches being that," Hughes said. "You talk about being good husbands and fathers, you hear those coaching cliches, but you are like what does that really look like. "I have my kids around all the time so my players are able to see me being a dad which I think adds another layer and another level where it is more important than football."