Hughes played college soccer with Brown University, and was named the Ivy League Player of the Year in 1995.
[1] In 1996, he played professional in the USISL Select League with South Carolina Shamrocks.
[2][3] After a season abroad he signed with St. Catharines Wolves in the Canadian National Soccer League.
In the championship final match the club faced Toronto Supra, and won the series by a score of 4-3.
[7] For the remainder of the season he assisted the Wolves in capturing the CPSL Championship by defeating Toronto Supra by a score 1-0.