Q's with Hughes: 10 questions with head coach Roger Hughes

What is the hardest part of coaching at Princeton?

These kids are so multi-talented and used to multitasking so much many times they take too much on. They don't understand the rigors of a Princeton education and they think they can do it like they did in high school and you just can't. Probably the biggest frustration is that these kid are so multitalented that sometimes they outthink themselves. Instead of just reacting and going and doing it they sometimes overanalyze a play instead of just reacting and going — [so] sometimes our greatest strength is our greatest weakness. And sometimes these kids overload themselves in the classroom. I firmly believe in being the best of both-and I think you can be-but something has to give ... if you're an engineering student here and you're taking five courses in the spring and you're doing all the things you have to to be a good football player or to be a good athlete in any sport, you're kind of getting pulled at both ends and sometimes you don't get a lot of sleep. It's awesome for me to be able to coach those kinds of kids but sometimes it gets frustrating because they get overloaded.

Which player would you most like to see date your daughter?

I can't answer that because there are so many good ones – I'd leave someone out.

Which player would you least want a 3 a.m. phone call from?

Any of them. Here's the deal as a coach: it's a lot like being a parent. You go to bed, you have your cell phone by your bed, and you hope it never rings. But you also want them to trust you enough so that if something does happen they call you first so you can help them.

What was the funniest moment of training camp?

There haven't been any just breakout funny moments, though hopefully we'll execute a couple before we end up going up to Lehigh to try and lighten the atmosphere. The funniest stuff has been among the coaches which I can't really share with you — the coaching staff and the training staff, we're always pulling pranks on each other. That stuff has to stay in house. The water balloon fight last year was one of the most fun things we did when the coaches hit the players with water balloons. It was a real hot day in training camp and I called the team in and I said, "Look I want you to try this thing-it's a mind over matter deal. I want you to close your eyes and imagine you're in a very hot place, then imagine you're in a cool waterfall," I had the filmers film it and the coaches all got big buckets of water balloons and started lobbing them in on the players. Then the players got the balloons and started hitting the coaches with them and we had a big water balloon fight on film.

What's your favorite play?

I like something that has a little trickery to it. I like something that presents the defense with exactly what they think they're going to see and then there's a little twist to make them not do it. I get bored if they're not creative so I like to have a little fun [with the plays]. Last year I think we ran a reverse wheel route where we faked it to the tailback, booted away and then threw back to him on a wheel and he was wide open against San Diego – something like that where the kids really like it and they think it's fine.

Who is the best player you've ever coached?

Four players I've coached have been pretty good at Princeton: Dennis Norman ['01] was pretty good, Jay McCareins ['06] was pretty good, Jon Dekker ['06] was pretty good. Matt Verbit ['05] ended up being the second-leading passer as well. Probably one of the best I've ever coached would be Jay Fiedler up at Dartmouth [as offensive coordinator].

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What is the most frustrating occurrence/game/practice/event you've had to deal with as a coach?

I guess the most frustrating thing has been trying to find that way to get over the top. We got very close four years ago with a 6-4 season and then we ended up the next two years losing three games on the very last play of the game each year. That's the most frustrating thing to see the kids work so hard and then for whatever reason the game doesn't work out. I go back to [the] Penn [game] two years ago – I talked to the team Friday night about what it would take to win and, I mean, they executed exactly what I said and we missed a last-second field goal to win the game.

What's your favorite part about coaching at Princeton?

The fact that I coach very bright, intelligent kids, because the conversation you can have is maybe somewhat different than at different schools. I'm so proud of what the players go on to achieve once they're done with Princeton. Every one of them is successful and every one goes on to do unbelievable things and I'm just in awe of what they go on to achieve. If I had a little bit to do with giving them that opportunity to come to a place like this then I feel pretty blessed to be able to do that.

What has been your proudest coaching moment?

My proudest coaching moment was when I was a graduate coaching assistant at the University of Nebraska. My grandfather had been diagnosed with terminal cancer and they gave him six months to live. You've got to understand that in the state of Nebraska, Nebraska football is everything. Every Saturday afternoon everyone in the state listens to the Nebraska football game on the radio if it's not on TV. So I was trying to find a way to cheer him up, trying to find a way to motivate him. I went to the announcer and ... I said, "listen, my grandfather's in the hospital ... and I'd appreciate it if you'd say something." He said, "Oh, no, we don't do that." I said, "Well I know, but I wrote out a little thing for you to say and if you have a chance, do it." He said, "Well I'm just telling you we don't do this." I said, "Well I know, I'm a GA here at Nebraska and I'd like you to if you can." So I called my parents [while my grandfather] was still in the hospital recovering from surgery and I said just have him listen don't tell him anything because I don't know if they're going to do it. And I guess that afternoon he did read it and he sat up in his bed and tears rolled down his face and he was so proud that [the announcer] had told him to get well. That's the best moment of coaching I've had.

What lessons do you want to see your players walk away from the program with?

Good question. One, all things considered, when you have a choice, do the right thing. Number two, work as hard as you can at everything you do. Have a drive to be the best at whatever it is. Lastly, character is everything.