Tyler Hughes

Current Minot State University head football coach, Ian Shields, made the comment at the Beavers’ signing day celebration that the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) is like “the Big 10” of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), Division II level.

Former MSU head coach, and current National Football League (NFL) coach, Tyler Hughes agrees with him.

“The competition in that conference is fierce,” said the New England Patriots wide receivers’ coach, Hughes. “That conference has a lot of tradition. Every team is physical, Every team is tough. You need to be both to compete with those schools.”

Hughes was the head football coach at Minot State from 2014-2016 and compiled a 5-28 record while with the Beavers team.

“We would have preferred to have a better record,” said Hughes of his tenure in Minot. “We learned very quickly that to compete there (in the NSIC) we would need to be creative in finding ways to win in addition to being tough minded and physical.”

More of a rarity than the normal path, Hughes has coached at the junior high school, high school, junior college, Division II and Division I NCAA levels in addition to the NFL. Prior to Minot State, Hughes played at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah – where he would end up coaching wide receivers and tight ends prior to becoming the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator on his way to the head coaching seat.

“Regardless of stage or division, youth or grown men – one thing is very clear,” said Hughes. “Players will listen and learn from you if you can help them have and be successful and you are respectful in how you deal with them on and off the field.”

From Snow College, Hughes went on to Ohio State with Urban Meyer before he became the head coach at Minot State. After working with the Beavers, he spent time back in his home state of Utah at the high school level before coaching with the Patriots as an offensive analyst and then at the University of Washington at the same position.

“We had people we knew from the first trip (2020-2022 with New England) welcome us ‘home’ when we returned,” said Hughes. “The coaching world is actually smaller than one would think and the longer I am a part of this community, the more I realize what a great community it is.”

Despite the variety of levels and ages, another thing that Hughes has learned is what makes for successful players and recruiting indicators.

“You have to have talent, but that is just the ground level requirement,” said Hughes. “Besides the talent that is a basic need, you have to have competitive people who are process oriented and amongst those people, you have to have strong leaders.”

The definition of leadership varies. Some are vocal, others are not. Despite the differences in style, a couple of things carry over across the styles.

“A great leader cares about everyone on the team and in the building,” said Hughes. “In addition to caring, great leaders – regardless of position played – are tough minded and good decision makers on and off the field.”

In making the return to the New England Patriots on the first staff after the departure of future Hall of Fame coach, Bill Belichick, the expectations are high. But expectations are high anytime there is a history of success.

“This organization has some great people. As a coach, who you associate with and work with can make a large difference in going to work. There is great tradition here and I am thankful for the current players and staff and look forward to the new members as they come to work here.”

While the new league year is just under way for the NFL, there is no new news on future players yet in New England – especially at the quarterback for the Patriots.

“We will have to see,” chuckled Hughes, at the unknown. “We have just started the new league year and have lots going on. We will just have to wait and see what the next few weeks bring.”