Billy Hughes was born in Odessa, TX, where his family lived prior to returning to Alabama in late 1964. He attended Fultondale schools where he was involved in numerous extra-curricular activities, and graduated from Fultondale High School in 1981. Billy went on to attend the University of Montevallo earning his Bachelor of Music Education degree in 1986. He returned to Montevallo and added endorsements in Driver and Traffic Safety and English in 1996. He currently teaches English and driver education at Fultondale High School, where he is Athletic Director and Head Wrestling, Golf, and Cross-Country coach. He also serves as Worship Pastor at Gardendale-Mount Vernon United Methodist Church. In 1987, his first year as a teacher and coach at Fultondale High School, Billy and his mentor, Coach Charlie Bruce, began Fultondale's first middle school wrestling program. In 1994, Billy teamed with Randy Haught, Ed Franks, and Paul Moore in creating the Dynasty Youth Wrestling League to train, develop, and encourage the sport of wrestling at the elementary level. In 1995, Billy assumed the role of Varsity Wrestling Coach at Fultondale High. During his tenure as Assistant and Head Wrestling Coach at Fultondale, the Wildcats won three AHSAA state championships (1992, 1994, and 1995), finished state runner-up five times (1988, 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2007), and earned 16 section titles. In addition to team titles, Billy has coached 65 individual state champions, 167 state qualifiers and placers, six High School All-Americans, 2 multiple All-Americans, 2 Academic All-Americans, and one Alabama Dave Schultz Award winner. Four of his wrestlers have been named Wrestler of the Year, and 10 Fultondale wrestlers have signed to wrestle at the collegiate level - with seven of those earning their degrees. Billy currently has a dual record of 694-469. He has been named Wrestling Coach of the Year by the North Jefferson News and The Birmingham News. He holds memberships in the National Wrestling Coaches Association, National High School Coaches Association, National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association, and serves on the Supervisory Committee of eCO Credit Union. Billy's wife of 29 years is Ginny McLean Hughes; they have two children, Lauren Moore (Dalton) and Alec Williams (Halleigh), and one granddaughter, Aiden Williams.