Matt Hughes has been named Head Football Coach of the West Branch Bears, it was announced by Activities Director Jake Stenberg.

“We are thrilled to welcome Coach Matt Hughes as the next leader of West Branch Football.” Stenberg said. “Coach Hughes has excelled anytime he’s been on the football field. He will build a brand of hard nosed football that maximizes the potential of all of our athletes. He believes in creating turnover opportunities and putting pressure on opponents on both sides of the ball.”

Hughes is excited and ready to take on the task.

“I am extremely excited and honored with the opportunity to coach at West Branch.” the new head coach said. “The Bear Football program is known around the area as successful, hard-nosed program. I am ready to get the ball rolling.”

Coach Ron Hughes, Matt's father, has been an assistant coach at West Branch on two different occasions over the past 20 years. So, the community is not foreign to the new head signal caller. 

“Coach Pedersen and the community helped us feel at home from day one.” Matt said. “When you are a Bear, you know you are part of something bigger than football.”

At CCA, Hughes and his father - co-head coaches - took over a program coming off of seasons of 4-5 and 0-9, respectively. In their first season, the Clippers were, again, 4-5. Conversely, from 2014-2016, the program was revitalized and won 20 games combined; including a 6-game win streak in 2016 as the squad finished 7-2. CCA earned playoff berths in two of the 4 seasons Hughes was coach (2014, 2015). 

He finished with 23-15 overall win-loss record as the Clippers' head coach.

At West Branch, he will take over a program which won just three games in 2024. One of those wins was a thrilling 41-33 first round playoff victory over top-seeded Sigourney-Keota. In the following week, the season would come to an end at the hands of eventual 1A state champion Grundy Center (42-7). 

Coach John Nestor announced his resignation in February 2025 after just one season in West Branch. Stenberg, again, was tasked with finding a head coach for the storied program.

He knew right away that Hughes was the right fit at the right time.

“I can't wait to work with Coach Hughes.” Stenberg states. “Matt is a man of high moral character. He won’t ask his players to do anything he and his coaching staff aren’t willing to exemplify themselves. He will make sure each athlete is taught life lessons that will carry them not only through high school but also the rest of their lives.”

Coach Hughes wants to make sure people understand he is a player's coach. Building relationships with the student-athletes is vital to the success of any program. More importantly, in their lives.

Hughes also knows that football is something the community hangs its hat on..and has for over 40 years. 

“I take the challenge of continuing Coach Pedersen's legacy, and the Bear tradition, very personally.” Hughes exclaims. “To have the opportunity to walk the same sidelines as him is an honor. It's my job, and that of my staff, to bring the best out of the athletes and the community. We want to create a championship football team and environment with our program.”

The Bears will play in Class 2A, District 5 in 2025 and 2026. Other teams in the district include: Anamosa, Alburnett, Bellevue, Monticello, and Tipton. The entirety of the schedule for the coming season will be released on Monday, April 7.

Go Bears!