Mackenzie Hughes returns to Mayville State as assistant softball coach
· Yahoo Sports
Jul. 15—MAYVILLE, N.D. — Mackenzie Hughes is heading back to Mayville State.
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The former Thompson, Mayville State and UND athlete has joined softball head coach Jordan Olson's coaching staff.
"I'm grateful for the opportunity to return to the Mayville State family," Hughes said in a press release. "This university played such an important role in shaping me as both a student-athlete and a person, and I'm excited to give back to a program and school that means so much to me."
Hughes was a standout player in both softball and basketball in her four years at Mayville State. She started every softball game of her collegiate career except one, and finished with more than 100 career hits and 47 stolen bases.
Hughes earned the North Star Athletic Association Gold Glove in 2023 for her play as an outfielder and was named First Team All-Conference in 2025.
On Olson's staff, Hughes will work with the outfield, strength and conditioning, fundraising and serve as the coaching staff's primary in-state recruiter.
Hughes also had an exceptional basketball career at Mayville State. She finished with more than 1,500 career points, was named First Team All-Conference twice and earned NAIA All-American honors.
Hughes used her final season of collegiate eligibility to join UND, reuniting with former Mayville State head coach Dennis Hutter. She eclipsed 2,000 career points and 400 career assists with the Fighting Hawks.
Hughes led the Hawks in minutes per game (32.8), scoring average (12.2), assists (108) and steals (29). She was named Honorable Mention All-League in her final season of college basketball.
Hughes was a standout three-sport athlete at Thompson, playing basketball, softball and volleyball. She was named the North Dakota High School Female Athlete of the Year in 2021 by the North Dakota Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.