Hugh Toro enters his 12th season with the Clayton State cross country  program after 17 years of coaching at the high school level. Toro spends his days teaching physical education in nearby Henry County after teaching from 1986-2001 at Fountain Elementary School in Forest Park.

Like head coach Mike Mead, Toro is a graduate of West Georgia. Toro competed in cross country while at West Georgia, earning all-conference and team MVP honors in 1976. He earned bachelor of science degrees in education and recreation and a master's degree in education.

In 1978, he became a physical education teacher and coached the cross country and track programs at former Babb Junior High School. In 1980, Toro became the athletic director at Fountain Junior High School and held that position until the school became an elementary school in 1986.

Toro got his first taste of high school coaching in 1979 when he began as a volunteer coach at Forest Park High School. In 1981, he took over as head coach in mid-season and guided Forest Park to a 10th place showing at the state cross country championships.

While at Riverdale, Toro coached Kevin Graham, who was a AAAA state champion in cross country his senior year. Prior to coming to Clayton State, Toro coached at Morrow High School for four seasons.

Toro has continued to be an avid runner after college, winning numerous road races and running in every Peachtree Road Race since 1973. He lives in Stockbridge and his  son Christopher attends law school at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.