Growing up in Northern Kentucky, Hughes set several area records for goals scored while playing at Holmes High School. During his senior season, he set the Region record for goals scored in a season and was voted 2001 Northern Kentucky Player of the Year. After high school Hughes chose to play soccer for National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Western Michigan University, and then later transferred to the University of Cincinnati at the end of his sophomore year.
Youth and college Professional Hughes left the college ranks after just one season with the University of California Bearcats, forfeiting his remaining National Collegiate Athletic Association eligibility to play professionally. Originally he signed with the Second Bundesliga club Turn- und Sportverein 1860 München, but soon after, he returned to the United States and found a home with the USL Second Division team Cincinnati Kings. During the 2006 season, the Kings traded Hughes to the North Carolina-based Wilmington Hammerheads.
After just over a year with Wilmington, he left to join the Pittsburgh Riverhounds for the 2008 season.
After the close of the 2008 season, he signed with 1790 Cincinnati in the Professional Arena Soccer League, where he was named 2nd team PASL. He returned to the Riverhounds for 2009, but was released from his contract at the end of the season. Having been unable to secure a professional contract elsewhere, Hughes returned to play for the Cincinnati Kings in the USL Premier Development League in 2010.
Jeff signed for the Major Indoor Soccer League club, the Syracuse Silver Knights in 2011. Hughed signed on to be a midfielder and the head coach of the Cincinnati Kings of the Professional Arena Soccer League for the 2012-2013 season.
Although he led the Kings to qualify for the postseason and was the team"s leading scorer, he was released on January 25, 2013.
Hughes signed with the Missouri Comets of the Major Indoor Soccer League the same day.
