Robert L. Hughes was a star player on the men's basketball team from 1951-1954 coached by the legendary Ed Adams. Hughes played forward, post and off-guard positions, averaging more than 20 points as a senior. He was a member on the Midwestern Athletic Association championship.

Hughes garnered All-Conference honors three years and was named TSU's Athlete of the Year as a senior. In 1954, Hughes played with the Harlem Magicians and was later a draftee of the Boston Celtics. 

He began his storied coaching career at I.M. Terrell in Fort Worth, Texas and moved to Dunbar High School after integration. At Dunbar, Hughes won two state titles, finished as state runner-up three times, and took the team to the final four 12 times between 1977 and 2003, including ten final fours in the 17-year run between 1977 and 1993.

Between Terrell and Dunbar combined, Hughes won five state basketball titles, and retired in 2005 as the all-time winningest high school basketball coach, passing Morgan Wootten in 2003. "If you can't work hard and put out the best, you probably need to go home to your mama," Hughes was known for telling his players.

Hughes was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on March 31, 2017.