Generals recruit alum after coach departs

More news about: Amherst | Emory | Washington and Lee

Washington and Lee University selected alumnus Chris McHugh as its next head men's basketball coach, replacing Adam Hutchinson who resigned in June to take an assistant position at his alma mater Amherst.

Director of Athletics Jan Hathorn announced the hire on Tuesday.

“Chris has demonstrated the highest ideals of character, sportsmanship, and competitive success throughout the course of his playing and coaching career,” said Hathorn in the University's release.  “As a loyal and passionate alum, who ascribes to the success of our students in the classroom and community, as well as on the court, Chris is uniquely positioned to have an immediate and positive impact on the lives of our students."

A 2009 graduate of the University, McHugh played 101 games with 72 starts at guard over his four-year playing career. He led the team in assists as a junior and senior and remains in the program's top ten all-time for three-point field goals made and three-point percentage.

After graduating from W&L, he worked as an assistant coach at Mount St. Mary while earning his master's degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He then spent one season as an assistant at Connecticut College before joining Jason Zimmerman's staff at Emory. During his four years on Emory's coaching staff, the Eagles went 80-31 with four trips to the NCAA Tournament.

McHugh replaces Adam Hutchinson who coached 14 seasons, including the four in which McHugh played there. Hutchinson resigned in June and accepted an assistant coaching position at his alma mater Amherst. Hutchinson will join the staff of his college head coach, Dave Hixon.

"Some of my favorite memories in basketball are playing for him and working for him,” Hutchinson told the Roanoke Times. “Amherst means a lot to me. It’s a place that I’ve thought a lot about wanting to be [at] over the years.”

Hutchinson also noted that his wife, who has family in Massachusetts, has been hired as the director of college counseling at Deerfield (Mass.) Academy

“When the two opportunities kind of came open for my wife and myself, we kind of looked at it and said, ‘Hey, this would be a good move,’ ” Hutchinson told the Times.

Hutchinson arrived at Washington and Lee in 2003 after being head coach for two seasons apiece at Stevens and Case Western Reserve. He went 154-215 in 14 seasons at Washington and Lee.

The Generals finished 13-15, 7-9 in the ODAC last season.