ATLANTA (March 10, 2026) — Kristin Hughes, director of athletics and recreation at Smith College, is the 2026 WBCA Administrator of the Year, announced today by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.
The WBCA Administrator of the Year award is presented annually to an administrator, athletic director, associate or assistant athletic director, or senior woman administrator who has excelled at encouraging the growth and quality of women’s basketball programs and women’s athletic programs overall. The candidate also must have served as a professional role model for student-athletes.
“Kristin Hughes has demonstrated her commitment to women’s basketball coaches and student-athletes throughout her career. A coach at heart, Kristin has steadily expanded her influence — both locally at Smith College and nationally as a trusted leader. Kristin continues to implement thoughtful student-athlete-focused solutions every chance she gets. The WBCA family of coaches salutes Kristin for her wisdom, influence, and efforts to lift the sport.”
Hughes was appointed to her current position at Smith College in July 2015 after serving eight years as director of athletics for the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Before moving into athletics administration, Hughes served as head women’s basketball coach at both Case Western University (1993-2004) and Colgate University (2004-07). Hughes has served on the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Committee since 2023. Committee members elected her their chairperson for the 2025-26 season.
Hughes previously was named NACDA Athletics Director of the Year in 2024 and Women Leaders in College Sports Division III Nike Executive of the Year in 2023.
“This truly is a special honor, and I want to thank the WBCA who has been promoting and elevating the women’s game long before it was popular to do so,” said Hughes. “Being the Birthplace of Women’s Basketball, I am so proud to represent Smith College and share this recognition with some incredibly talented coaches and student-athletes who I have the privilege of sharing this great gift of sport with every day.”
The WBCA Administrator of the Year award was first presented in 1985.
Visit WBCA.org to see a list of past recipients.
About the WBCA
The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association is the professional association for coaches of women’s and girls’ basketball at all levels of competition. Founded in 1981, the WBCA offers educational resources that coaches need to help make themselves better leaders, teachers and mentors to their players; provides opportunities for coaches to connect with peers in the profession; serves as the unifying voice of a diverse community of coaches to the organizations that control the game; and celebrates those coaches, players and other individuals who excel each year and contribute to the advancement of the sport. Visit WBCA.org for more details about the association.
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