Mesalands rodeo coach leaving

Matt Hughes, the rodeo coach at Mesalands Community College since 2017, soon will leave to guide a newly launched rodeo program in his native Missouri.

Missouri State University-West Plains is adding a co-ed rodeo team to its athletic programs in the fall that will compete in the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association in the Ozarks Region.

Hughes is a native of West Plains, Missouri. He was a professional rodeo athlete before becoming a coach.

Mesalands interim president Allen Moss talked about Hughes’ imminent departure during the board of trustees meeting last week.

He described it as “a huge loss for our program.”

“I don’t hold it against anyone who wants to get back to family,” Moss said.

Moss said he hoped Mesalands would fill the position in the coming weeks.

Moss said Hughes would continue to coach the Stampede squad until the spring season ends, including the possibility of Mesalands athletes qualifying for the College National Finals Rodeo in Casper, Wyoming, in June.

Mesalands in recent years has qualified several athletes for CNFR, including Andy Guzman in 2022, who finished fourth in the nation in bull riding and earned Rookie of the Year honors.

An attempt to reach Hughes for comment was unsuccessful.