Darrin Horn hired as head coach at Northern Kentucky

Former South Carolina and WKU head coach Darrin Horn has been named the new head coach at Northern Kentucky. Horn, a native to the Bluegrass State, has been on Shaka Smart‘s staff at Texas for the last four seasons.

“Throughout the hiring process, it became clear that Darrin was the right fit to lead the Norse men’s basketball program,” AD Ken Bothof said Tuesday. “Not only does he have ties to Kentucky from his prep and collegiate playing days, but he’s also been a successful head coach at Western Kentucky.”

Horn was head coach at alma mater WKU from 2003-2008 before leaving for South Carolina, where he coached for four seasons. He has compiled a 171-111 record during his career and has been to the postseason four times (one NCAA Sweet Sixteen and three NITs). After his firing from SC in 2012, he returned to his home state for several years before joining Smart at Texas in 2015.

“It’s a thrill for me to be named the head coach at Northern Kentucky,” Horn stated in the release. “It was a job I’ve had my eye on for a while now. There is great momentum and energy surrounding both the basketball program and University. Norse Basketball is a winning program with players who know what it takes to win. My family and I can’t wait to join the Norse family and Northern Kentucky community.”

Horn will look to build on the success of former head coach John Brannen, who led the Norse to two NCAA Tournaments and an NIT in the last three seasons before leaving for Cincinnati earlier this month. First eligible for postseason play in 2017 (due to Division I transition), NKU has won 22+ games in each of those three eligible seasons.

credit to Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images for the photo