Loyola Marymount University Athletics

Coach A in the Media
          • 2025-2026
                    o LA Sentinel -  Aarika Hughes Makes Historic Run at LMU
                    o KCAL -  Aarika Hughes On LMU Winning WCC Regular Season Title 
                    o KCAL -  LMU Special Bus Send-Off          
Historic Impact at LMU
Under Hughes’ leadership, the Lions have experienced significant program growth, culminating in a historic 2025-26 season and building momentum from the previous year.
        Key Milestones during Hughes' Tenure Include: Impact Players Under Coach A    
Aarika Hughes is currently completing her fifth season as head coach of the Loyola Marymount University women’s basketball program, continuing to guide the Lions through one of the most historic seasons in program history as LMU looks ahead to postseason play.

During the 2025-26 season, Hughes led the Lions to the West Coast Conference Regular-Season Championship, securing the program’s first outright conference title since the 2003-04 season. LMU finished 15-3 in WCC play, the best conference record in program history, while recording 21 overall wins, tying for the second-most victories in a single season in program history. 

The Lions also produced a nine-game winning streak, the program’s longest since the 2003-04 championship season, and captured a signature victory over Gonzaga - snapping a 35-game losing streak to the Bulldogs and earning LMU’s first win in the series since 2008. 

For her leadership in guiding LMU to a championship season, Hughes was named West Coast Conference Coach of the Year, becoming only the second coach in program history to receive the honor and the first since 2004. 

The Lions also earned widespread individual recognition under Hughes’ leadership. Jess Lawson was named WCC Newcomer of the Year and named to the WCC Championship All-Tournament Team, while Lawson and Maya Hernandez earned All-WCC First Team honors, marking the program’s first First Team selections since 2018-19 and the first time LMU placed two players on the First Team since the 2003-04 championship season. Andjela Matic added All-WCC Second Team recognition, highlighting one of the most decorated seasons in program history.

Hughes was hired as the program's Head Coach in April 2021 by Athletic Director Craig Pintens.
 
Hughes joins LMU from the University of Southern California, where she has served as associate head coach since 2019 and been part of the coaching staff for four years.
 
"Aarika is going to make a tremendous impact on the lives of our student-athletes," said Pintens. "As one of the country's top assistant coaches, she has demonstrated her ability to develop relationships, coach, and recruit at the highest level. Coach Hughes' blueprint for our program is inspiring and will help us compete for championships."
 
Well known for her leadership, The Athletic magazine named Hughes among its top 21 assistant coaches for 2021. The Women's Basketball Coaches Association previously named her "Top Thirty Coaches Under 30." Hughes also served with the USC Athletics Black Lives Matter Action Team. 
 
Hughes brings a wealth of experience as a coach and a standout student-athlete. At USC, where she earned a bachelor of arts degree in sociology, she led the women's basketball team as captain from 2007-2010. In 2007, she ranked third all-time at the school for a single-season 3-point shooting average (.409).
 
With a proven ability to recruit and mentor outstanding student-athletes, Hughes returned to her alma mater in 2017. Hughes helped sign two top-7 ranked recruiting classes in four seasons with the Trojans, including three McDonald's All-American selections.
 
Hughes began her coaching career in New Mexico with five seasons as an assistant at New Mexico State (2011-16) and a year at the University of New Mexico (2016-17). During her time with the Aggies, Hughes helped lead NMSU to two NCAA Tournaments and two WAC championships in 2014 and 2015. At all three of her coaching stops, Hughes has mentored a number of All-Conference (9) and All-Academic selections, including conference tournament most valuable players, conference players of the years, and conference freshman of the year. Hughes boasts a roster of seven former players who have transitioned into the professional ranks. Additionally, she earned recognition as one of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's Top 30 Coaches Under 30.
 
"I am so humbled and grateful for the opportunity to be the next Head Coach for the LMU women's basketball program," said Hughes. "I want to thank Craig Pintens and Ashley Armstrong for selecting me to be the leader of this team. I am truly blessed and I can't wait to get started with these wonderful young women."

Coaching Experience  
Playing Experience
          2006– 2010       USC