Dave van Horn
Encyclopedia
Dave Van Horn is the current head baseball
coach of the University of Arkansas
Razorbacks
baseball team, which plays its home games in recently renovated Baum Stadium
. He has been the head coach since June of 2002 when he took over for legendary Arkansas coach Norm DeBriyn
.
Prior to the 2010 season
, Coach Van Horn holds a record of 276-158 (.636) as coach of the Razorbacks, and a career record of 861-398 (.684) in his 21 seasons of head coaching.
Dave Van Horn played baseball at McLennan Community College
in Texas for two years, earning all-conference and all-region honors as a freshman, while helping the Highlanders finish third in the NJCAA College World Series. His next season brought more individual and team success, as the team finished eighth in the nation and Van Horn earning All American
and Region 5 Player of the Year accolades. Turning down the Chicago White Sox
, who drafted him, he transferred to Arkansas for the 1982 season.
As a Razorback, Van Horn would earn All-Southwest Conference and SWC Newcomer of the Year awards for his performance. He was also recognized as team MVP
. The Atlanta Braves
selected van Horn in the 10th round, where he would spend his next three years in the minor leagues
.
Dave Van Horn's teams have had plenty of success, reaching the College World Series
four times as head coach, twice while at Arkansas (2004, 2009), the other two during his tenure at Nebraska (2001 and 2002). As a graduate assistant at Arkansas he has reached the CWS twice more, in 1985 and 1987. Coach Van Horn has also led nine straight teams to the postseason NCAA tournament
, from 1999–present.
Arkansas reached the SEC Tournament
every year under Van Horn as head coach from 2003–2007 and again in 2009. The 2008 team did not qualify for the SEC Tournament but qualified for the NCAA Tournament.
. The team won the Norman
by knocking off top-eight seed Oklahoma
. The Hogs next defeated Florida State
twice at Dick Howser Stadium
to punch their ticket to the College World Series. The Razorbacks were not expected to do well at the Series, but defeated the favored Cal State Fullerton Titans
. Next the Hogs were defeated by L. S .U.
, but staved off elimination the next day by beating Virginia
in twelve innings. The Hogs were eliminated by eventual national champion LSU in game 11.
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
coach of the University of Arkansas
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
Razorbacks
Arkansas Razorbacks
The Razorbacks, also known as the Hogs, are the names of college sports teams at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The term Arkansas Razorbacks properly applies to any of the sports teams at the university. The Razorbacks take their name from the feral pig of the same name...
baseball team, which plays its home games in recently renovated Baum Stadium
Baum Stadium
Baum Stadium is the home stadium for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team. The actual field that is played on is entitled George Cole Field, named after the former Arkansas athletic director. George Cole Field was the name of the Razorbacks' home stadium from 1975 to March 1996...
. He has been the head coach since June of 2002 when he took over for legendary Arkansas coach Norm DeBriyn
Norm DeBriyn
Norm DeBriyn was the former head baseball coach at the University of Arkansas. He led the Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team for 33 years, beginning in 1970. During his tenure, which ended after the 2002 season, DeBriyn's teams achieved three conference championships, 15 NCAA tournament appearances,...
.
Prior to the 2010 season
2010 Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team
The 2010 Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team represented the University of Arkansas in baseball at the Division I level in the NCAA for the 2010 season. Dave van Horn, a former Razorback player, was the coach in his sixth year at his alma mater. The 2010 club hosted and won the Fayetteville Regional,...
, Coach Van Horn holds a record of 276-158 (.636) as coach of the Razorbacks, and a career record of 861-398 (.684) in his 21 seasons of head coaching.
Playing career
McLennan Community College
McLennan Community College is a community college partially funded by the taxpayers of McLennan County, Texas. Located in Waco, Texas, it opened in 1965. MCC now serves about 9,000 students and has more than 700 employees. It is governed by a Board of Trustees elected from single-member...
in Texas for two years, earning all-conference and all-region honors as a freshman, while helping the Highlanders finish third in the NJCAA College World Series. His next season brought more individual and team success, as the team finished eighth in the nation and Van Horn earning All American
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
and Region 5 Player of the Year accolades. Turning down the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, who drafted him, he transferred to Arkansas for the 1982 season.
As a Razorback, Van Horn would earn All-Southwest Conference and SWC Newcomer of the Year awards for his performance. He was also recognized as team MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
. The Atlanta Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
selected van Horn in the 10th round, where he would spend his next three years in the minor leagues
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
.
Family
Coach Van Horn met his wife, the former Karen Lee, while serving as a graduate assistant at Arkansas. The couple has two daughters, Hollan and Mariel.Alma mater
- Masters of Science, East Texas State University (in Commerce, TexasCommerce, TexasCommerce is a city in Hunt County, Texas, United States, located in rural East Texas. The population was 7,669 at the 2000 census, however recent growth and its proximity to Interstate 30 and the eastern Metroplex has put the population around 9750...
), 1992 - Arkansas, 1988
Team accomplishments
College World Series
The College World Series or CWS is an annual baseball tournament held in Omaha, Nebraska that is the culmination of the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, which determines the NCAA Division I college baseball champion. The eight teams are split into two, four-team, double-elimination brackets,...
four times as head coach, twice while at Arkansas (2004, 2009), the other two during his tenure at Nebraska (2001 and 2002). As a graduate assistant at Arkansas he has reached the CWS twice more, in 1985 and 1987. Coach Van Horn has also led nine straight teams to the postseason NCAA tournament
NCAA Division I Baseball Championship
The NCAA Division I Baseball Championship tournament is held each year from May through June and features 64 college baseball teams in the United States, culminating in the College World Series....
, from 1999–present.
Arkansas reached the SEC Tournament
SEC Baseball Tournament
The SEC Baseball Tournament is the conference championship tournament in baseball for the Southeastern Conference . It is a double-elimination tournament and seeding is based on regular season records. The winner receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament...
every year under Van Horn as head coach from 2003–2007 and again in 2009. The 2008 team did not qualify for the SEC Tournament but qualified for the NCAA Tournament.
2009
Arkansas went 34-22 in 2009, and set University records for single-game attendance (11,434) total season attendance, (269,216) and actual attendance (173,946). Despite beating #1 Arizona State twice, the Hogs faltered at the end of the season, losing their final eight SEC games.2009 College World Series
Arkansas returned to Omaha in 20092009 Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team
The 2009 Arkansas Razorbacks baseball team represented the University of Arkansas in baseball at the Division I level in the NCAA for the 2009 season. Dave van Horn, a former Razorback player, is the coach in his fifth year. The team clinched a berth in the 2009 College World Series with a defeat...
. The team won the Norman
Norman, Oklahoma
Norman is a city in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, United States, and is located south of downtown Oklahoma City. It is part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, Norman was to have 110,925 full-time residents, making it the third-largest city in Oklahoma and the...
by knocking off top-eight seed Oklahoma
Oklahoma Sooners baseball
Oklahoma Sooners baseball is the NCAA Division I collegiate baseball team of the University of Oklahoma based in Norman, Oklahoma.The Oklahoma Baseball tradition is long and storied, with two National Championships in 1951 and 1994, along with numerous All-Americans...
. The Hogs next defeated Florida State
Florida State Seminoles
The Florida State Seminoles are the men's and women's sports teams of Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. Florida State participates in the NCAA's Division I . FSU joined the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1991, and competes in the Atlantic Division in any sports split into a...
twice at Dick Howser Stadium
Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium
Mike Martin Field at Dick Howser Stadium is a stadium in Tallahassee, Florida, located adjacent to Doak Campbell Stadium on the campus of Florida State University. Used primarily for baseball, it is the home field of the Florida State Seminoles baseball team. It opened in 1983 and was renovated...
to punch their ticket to the College World Series. The Razorbacks were not expected to do well at the Series, but defeated the favored Cal State Fullerton Titans
Cal State Fullerton Titans
The Cal State Fullerton Titans are the intercollegiate athletic teams of Cal State Fullerton, located in Fullerton, California. The Titans are a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association at the Division I level...
. Next the Hogs were defeated by L. S .U.
2009 LSU Tigers baseball team
The 2009 LSU Tigers baseball team will represent Louisiana State University in the NCAA Division I baseball season of 2009. This was the first year for the team in the new Alex Box Stadium....
, but staved off elimination the next day by beating Virginia
Virginia Cavaliers baseball
The Virginia Cavaliers baseball team represents the University of Virginia in NCAA Division I college baseball. Established in 1889, the team participates in the Coastal division of the Atlantic Coast Conference and plays its home games at Davenport Field. There was discussion at one time to...
in twelve innings. The Hogs were eliminated by eventual national champion LSU in game 11.