Darrin Horn

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Darrin Horn
Current position
TitleHead coach
TeamNorthern Kentucky
ConferenceHorizon League
Record96–59 (.619)
Biographical details
Born (1972-12-24) December 24, 1972 (age 51)
Glasgow, Kentucky, U.S.
Playing career
1991–1995Western Kentucky
Position(s)Guard
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1995–1997Western Kentucky (assistant)
1997–1999Morehead State (assistant)
1999–2003Marquette (assistant)
2003–2008Western Kentucky
2008–2012South Carolina
2015–2019Texas (assistant)
2019–presentNorthern Kentucky
Head coaching record
Overall267–170 (.611)
Tournaments2–2 (NCAA Division I)
1–3 (NIT)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
2 Sun Belt regular season (2006, 2008)
Sun Belt tournament (2008)
2 Horizon League tournament (2020, 2023)

Darrin McKinley Horn (born December 24, 1972) is an American college basketball head coach at Northern Kentucky, having previously served as an assistant coach at the University of Texas and a head coach for the Division I (NCAA) programs at Western Kentucky University and at the University of South Carolina.[1]

Playing career[edit]

Born in Kentucky, Horn played guard for the 1991 KHSAA state runner-up Tates Creek High School Commodores in Lexington, Kentucky for coach Nolan Barger.[2]

In college, Horn played for Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers in Bowling Green, Kentucky from 1991 to 1995.[3] He was a crowd favorite, hitting a game-winning three-pointer to defeat the University of Louisville on February 16, 1993, in Freedom Hall.[4] While Horn played at WKU, the team made it to the NCAA tournament three times, defeating Memphis State (led by Penny Hardaway) and Seton Hall in 1993 before losing to Florida State University; losing to the University of Texas in the first round in 1994; and defeating the University of Michigan before losing to the University of Kansas (led by Greg Ostertag) in 1995.[5] Horn played for Ralph Willard and Matt Kilcullen while at WKU.

Coaching career[edit]

Assistant coach[edit]

Horn served as an assistant coach from 1995 to 1997 at WKU for then-coach Matt Kilcullen before departing for Morehead State University to serve under Kyle Macy for two seasons before departing for Marquette.[6]

He was an assistant coach at Marquette University under Tom Crean. That Marquette team was led by future NBA players Dwyane Wade and Travis Diener.[7] Crean and Horn first crossed paths when Horn played at WKU and Crean was an assistant for the Hilltoppers under head coach Ralph Willard.

Head coach[edit]

After his tenure at Marquette, Horn was hired as the head coach at Western Kentucky University to replace Dennis Felton, who left for the University of Georgia after three trips to the NCAA Tournament. Prior to his hiring, Travis Diener recommended Horn to the then-WKU athletic director Wood Selig.[8]

Horn compiled a record of 111–48 in five seasons at his alma mater, WKU. He led the Hilltoppers to the Sweet 16, the third round of the 2008 NCAA men's basketball tournament,[9] a tournament run that included one of the most celebrated buzzer beaters in college basketball history, a three-pointer by Ty Rogers against Drake in overtime.[10] Their run ended with a 10-point loss to top-seeded UCLA.[11]

On April 1, 2008, Horn was hired as the new men's coach at the University of South Carolina, replacing Dave Odom.[1]

On March 13, 2012, he was fired as head coach of the Gamecocks after going 60–63 in 4 seasons with only one postseason appearance.[12]

On April 23, 2019, Horn was hired as head coach by Northern Kentucky University replacing John Brannen who left to take the University of Cincinnati job.[13]

Coaching style[edit]

Horn's teams are known for their up-tempo style of play, full-court trapping defense and conditioning. While at WKU, Horn's teams averaged 47% field goal accuracy and averaged approximately 77 points per game.[14]

Personal life[edit]

Horn is married to Carla Walker Horn of Dickson, Tennessee. The couple have two children, Caroline and Walker. Walker plays college basketball for the University of Kentucky.

Head coaching record[edit]

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (Sun Belt Conference) (2003–2008)
2003–04 Western Kentucky 15–13 8–6 5th
2004–05 Western Kentucky 22–9 9–5 2nd (East) NIT First Round
2005–06 Western Kentucky 23–8 12–2 1st (East) NIT First Round
2006–07 Western Kentucky 22–11 12–6 2nd (East)
2007–08 Western Kentucky 29–7 16–2 T–1st (East) NCAA Division I Sweet 16
Western Kentucky: 111–48 (.698) 57–21 (.731)
South Carolina Gamecocks (Southeastern Conference) (2008–2012)
2008–09 South Carolina 21–10 10–6 2nd (East) NIT First Round
2009–10 South Carolina 15–16 6–10 5th (East)
2010–11 South Carolina 14–16 5–11 6th (East)
2011–12 South Carolina 10–21 2–14 12th
South Carolina: 60–63 (.488) 23–41 (.359)
Northern Kentucky Norse (Horizon League) (2019–present)
2019–20 Northern Kentucky 23–9 13–5 2nd NCAA Division I Canceled
2020–21 Northern Kentucky 14–11 11–7 4th
2021–22 Northern Kentucky 20–12 14–6 3rd
2022–23 Northern Kentucky 22–13 14–6 T–2nd NCAA Division I Round of 64
2023–24 Northern Kentucky 18–15 12–8 T–5th
Northern Kentucky: 97–60 (.618) 64–32 (.667)
Total: 268–171 (.610)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Source[15]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Western Kentucky coach Horn leaving for S. Carolina – Men's College Basketball – ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. April 1, 2008. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  2. ^ "Morris | Darrin Horn: Action Man | GoGamecocks". Archived from the original on February 4, 2013.
  3. ^ Walker, Jay. "Jay's Memorable Moment #5 – 'Toppers Topped". SPORTS RADIO ESPN 1420.
  4. ^ "Hilltopper Flashbacks". Hilltopper Haven. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  5. ^ "NCAA basketball tournament History: Western Kentucky Hilltoppers – ESPN". Espn.go.com. January 2, 2011. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  6. ^ "Darrin Horn – Official Website – South Carolina Basketball". www.allcoachnetwork.com.
  7. ^ "Horn Member of 2002–03 Men's Hoops Squad Inducted into Marquette Athletics Hall of Fame University of South Carolina Official Athletic Site". Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  8. ^ Pollock, Tim. "South Carolina Basketball Hires Darrin Horn". Bleacher Report.
  9. ^ "Western Kentucky vs. UCLA – Box Score – March 27, 2008 – ESPN". ESPN.com.
  10. ^ "VOTE: Is Rogers' Buzzer-Beater the Best of All-Time? – Western Kentucky University Official Athletics Site". Wkusports.com. Archived from the original on November 2, 2010. Retrieved April 30, 2012.
  11. ^ "Western Kentucky vs. UCLA – Game Recap – March 27, 2008 – ESPN". ESPN.com.
  12. ^ "Darrin Horn fired by South Carolina". WRDW-TV Augusta. Retrieved March 13, 2012.
  13. ^ "Darrin Horn to replace John Brannen as NKU Norse head coach". Retrieved April 23, 2019.
  14. ^ "Darrin Horn Profile – South Carolina Official Athletic Site". Archived from the original on May 5, 2012. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  15. ^ Darrin Horn Archived March 5, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. sports-reference.com

External links[edit]

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