MARQUETTE, Mich. — The Northern Michigan University Athletics Department welcomes Harlan County native Noah Hughes to the staff as athletics communications director, the department announced Thursday.

Hughes joins the Wildcat program following a year-long stint at Union College in Barbourville, where he served as the assistant director of sports communications. His responsibilities with the Bulldogs included primary coverage of men’s and women’s soccer, cycling, men’s and women’s golf, women’s basketball, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, baseball, and men’s and women’s tennis.

Prior to his role as assistant director of sports communications, Hughes worked as a graduate assistant for the Bulldogs and the Appalachian Athletic Conference (NAIA).

Other stops include nearly three years at Berea College in their sports information department as well as an internship at Western Kentucky University.

He also has a background in statistics and graphic design.

Hughes is a native of Cumberland and is a graduate of Harlan County High School and Berea College. He is the son of Carlton and Kathy Hughes, of Cumberland, and the grandson of Cecil and Glenda Sue Hughes of Jenkins and Norma Dixon of Cumberland and the late Myrthul Dixon.

NMU is an NCAA Division II school located in Marquette, Mich.