David Hughes (American football)
Encyclopedia
David Augustus Hughes III (born June 1, 1959 in Honolulu
, Hawaii
) is a former professional American football
player from Kailua. He played six seasons in the National Football League
, the first five with the Seattle Seahawks
(1981–1985) and the final one with the Pittsburgh Steelers
. As a fullback
he was primarily a blocker, gaining just over 1000 yards in his pro career.
Hughes said his father's death had an impact. "I fell away from my family," said Hughes. "In junior high and high school I got involved with drugs and alcohol. I thought I was pretty cool. But inside I was very unhappy."
Hughes attended the Kamehameha Schools
in Honolulu, Hawaii
and is a 1977 graduate. At Kamehameha, he was a standout athlete, receiving letters in track, basketball, and football. In football, Hughes was a member of three consecutive Oahu Prep Bowl and Interscholastic League of Honolulu
championship teams. In the 1976 season, his senior year, he was named football offensive player of the year for the state of Hawaii.
at Boise State
from 1977 to 1980, starting at fullback
all four years and tallying 1,826 rushing yards (5.2 yards per carry). In 1978, Hughes was named to the All Big Sky Conference
1st team and also received honorable mention on the AP Division II All-America team. Hughes, quarterback Joe Aliotti, and halfbacks
Cedric Minter
and Terry Zahner were christened Boise's "Four Horsemen," and the quartet played key roles as seniors on the Broncos
' 1980 I-AA national championship team. Minter and Hughes were also chosen to play in the 1980 East West Shrine Game. Hughes is a member of the Boise State University Hall of Fame and in 2005 was named the first-team fullback on the Boise State Bronco 35 team, which honored the top BSU football players from 1970 to 2005.
, Hughes was picked in the second round (31st player overall) by the Seattle Seahawks. He was a member of the 1984 Seahawks team that made it to the league playoffs for the first time in franchise history. He led the team in rushing that season with 327 yards. In his six years in the NFL, Hughes totaled 1041 yards rushing, 864 yards receiving, and 663 yards in kickoff returns. He has seven career touchdowns. While playing for Pittsburgh in 1986, a knee injury ended his playing career.
In 1983, Hughes met Kalua Kaiahua from Napili, Hawaii
and had a spiritual experience where there was an "opening the doors of faith in God.". After his NFL career ended, Hughes became active in religious ministry. In 1994 he and his family moved to Eagle, Idaho
. There he pursued his ministry and served as running-backs coach for Eagle High School
, the Idaho state Class A Division II champions in 1998.
Hughes and his ohana (family) relocated to the Seattle area in 1999, and today they live in Redmond, Washington
. Hughes now works as pastor
for the Antioch Bible Church (a non-denomination church) in Redmond. He is also an assistant football coach at Eastlake High School (Sammamish, Washington)
, where he teaches his players the "highest values…of sportsmanship, of team play, of doing [their] best in sports as in life."
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
, Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
) is a former professional American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player from Kailua. He played six seasons in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
, the first five with the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
(1981–1985) and the final one with the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
. As a fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
he was primarily a blocker, gaining just over 1000 yards in his pro career.
Early years
The son of David Hughes Jr. and Dorothy (Kim-Kruetter) Hughes, Hughes was raised in Kailua, Hawaii on the windward side of Oahu. He has two sisters (Debbie and Diane) and one brother (Dean). When Hughes was 11, his father died.Hughes said his father's death had an impact. "I fell away from my family," said Hughes. "In junior high and high school I got involved with drugs and alcohol. I thought I was pretty cool. But inside I was very unhappy."
Hughes attended the Kamehameha Schools
Kamehameha Schools
Kamehameha Schools , formerly called Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate , is a private co-educational college-preparatory institution that specializes in Native Hawaiian language and cultural education. It is located in Hawaii and operates three campuses: Kapālama , Pukalani , and Keaau...
in Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
and is a 1977 graduate. At Kamehameha, he was a standout athlete, receiving letters in track, basketball, and football. In football, Hughes was a member of three consecutive Oahu Prep Bowl and Interscholastic League of Honolulu
Interscholastic League of Honolulu
The Interscholastic League of Honolulu or ILH is an athletic conference composed of private secondary schools in Honolulu, Hawai'i. The ILH comprises 26 private schools with over 7500 students participating in 22 different sports including cross country, track and field, swimming and diving,...
championship teams. In the 1976 season, his senior year, he was named football offensive player of the year for the state of Hawaii.
Boise State
Hughes played his college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Boise State
Boise State University
Boise State University is a public university located in Boise, Idaho. Originally founded in 1932 as a junior college by the Episcopal Church, the university became an independent institution in 1934, and has been awarding baccalaureate and master degrees since 1965...
from 1977 to 1980, starting at fullback
Fullback (American football)
A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback...
all four years and tallying 1,826 rushing yards (5.2 yards per carry). In 1978, Hughes was named to the All Big Sky Conference
Big Sky Conference
The Big Sky Conference is an intercollegiate college athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA's Division I, with football competing in the Football Championship Subdivision. The BSC was founded in 1963. Member institutions are located in the western United States in the states of Arizona,...
1st team and also received honorable mention on the AP Division II All-America team. Hughes, quarterback Joe Aliotti, and halfbacks
Halfback (American football)
A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive...
Cedric Minter
Cedric Minter
Cedric Alwyn Minter, , is a former professional football player, and an award-winning running back in the Canadian Football League.-Early years:...
and Terry Zahner were christened Boise's "Four Horsemen," and the quartet played key roles as seniors on the Broncos
Boise State Broncos
The Boise State Broncos are the official athletic program of Boise State University. The Broncos compete in a wide variety of sports. Perhaps the most well-known of these sports is the football program. The program attained a 13-0 season in 2006 capped by a memorable overtime win in the 2007 Fiesta...
' 1980 I-AA national championship team. Minter and Hughes were also chosen to play in the 1980 East West Shrine Game. Hughes is a member of the Boise State University Hall of Fame and in 2005 was named the first-team fullback on the Boise State Bronco 35 team, which honored the top BSU football players from 1970 to 2005.
NFL career
In the 1981 NFL Draft1981 NFL Draft
The 1981 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 28–29, 1981...
, Hughes was picked in the second round (31st player overall) by the Seattle Seahawks. He was a member of the 1984 Seahawks team that made it to the league playoffs for the first time in franchise history. He led the team in rushing that season with 327 yards. In his six years in the NFL, Hughes totaled 1041 yards rushing, 864 yards receiving, and 663 yards in kickoff returns. He has seven career touchdowns. While playing for Pittsburgh in 1986, a knee injury ended his playing career.
Personal life
Hughes married Holly Haleamau on February 14, 1981 while at Boise State. They have five children: Lahela, Kela, Keoni, Kaniela, and I`okepa.In 1983, Hughes met Kalua Kaiahua from Napili, Hawaii
Napili, Hawaii
Napili is an unincorporated area located north of Lāhainā, West Maui, Hawaii, United States. Napili Beach is a small beach surrounded by condominiums, and the local neighborhoods of Hui Road and Napilihau are home to hundreds of the people who work in West Maui's tourist industry.-See...
and had a spiritual experience where there was an "opening the doors of faith in God.". After his NFL career ended, Hughes became active in religious ministry. In 1994 he and his family moved to Eagle, Idaho
Eagle, Idaho
Eagle is a city in Ada County, Idaho, United States. The population was 19,908 at the 2010 census. Due to growth in the Boise metropolitan area, Eagle has become increasingly suburban in recent years.-Geography:...
. There he pursued his ministry and served as running-backs coach for Eagle High School
Eagle High School
Eagle High School is a four-year public school in Eagle, Idaho, operated by the Meridian School District. EHS opened in August 1995, educating students in grades 9–12. The current student body is approximately 2,200, an average of 550 students per class year...
, the Idaho state Class A Division II champions in 1998.
Hughes and his ohana (family) relocated to the Seattle area in 1999, and today they live in Redmond, Washington
Redmond, Washington
Redmond is a city in King County, Washington, United States, located east of Seattle. The population was 54,144 at the 2010 census,up from 45,256 in 2000....
. Hughes now works as pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
for the Antioch Bible Church (a non-denomination church) in Redmond. He is also an assistant football coach at Eastlake High School (Sammamish, Washington)
Eastlake High School (Sammamish, Washington)
Eastlake High School is a public high school located in Sammamish, Washington in the United States. The school serves students in grades 10-12 as part of the Lake Washington School District...
, where he teaches his players the "highest values…of sportsmanship, of team play, of doing [their] best in sports as in life."
External links
- Database Football.com - David Hughes
- NFL statistics - David Hughes