(September 12, 2007) -- The Toronto Raptors announced Wednesday they have hired Eric Hughes as their basketball development consultant. He will be responsible for assisting the players with the development of their on-court skills.
Hughes, 42, has worked since 2002 as the director of summer player development for Goodwin Sports Management in Seattle, creating workout programs and training NBA players Jamal Crawford, Kevin Durant, Al Horford, Dwight Howard, Gary Payton, Nate Robinson and Rodney Stuckey. He has also been the head coach at Spokane Community College in Spokane, Washington during that time. He has compiled an 88-61 (.590) mark in his five seasons, leading the Bigfoot’s to the Eastern Region championship in 2005 and 2006. He was named Eastern Region Coach of the Year in 2005 and 2006.
Hughes also served as an assistant coach under current Atlanta Hawks assistant Bob Bender at the University of Washington from 1993-2002, as an assistant at the University of California from 1991-93, and as a graduate assistant at Illinois State from 1989-91.