The following is a press release courtesy of FIU:
MIAMI (March 19, 2015) — FIU Executive Director of Sports and Entertainment Pete Garcia announced on Thursday the extension of Head Coach Randy Horner‘s contract which now runs through the 2018-19 season.
“I am honored to be given the opportunity to continue to develop student-athletes at FIU,” Horner said. “Our program has grown a lot in the past five years, and I can’t wait to continue to build on what we have established here.”
Horner, the 2015 Conference USA Coach of the Year, guided the program and the school to its first C-USA title this past season. During the conference championships, FIU won eight titles, with seven of them coming in individual events. In addition to the first conference title in 2015, Horner’s squad successfully completed an undefeated season in dual meets (10-0), another first in program history.
“The success that our swimming and diving program has had since Coach Horner’s arrival is remarkable,” Garcia said. “He has turned FIU into a championship program in the pool, the community and in the classroom. It will be exciting to see the levels to which he will take us in the next four years.”
The Panthers gained new heights in 2014-15 with a final national ranking of No. 35; the highest in school history after breaking a total of 12 school records during this year’s conference championships.
In his five years at the helm, Horner has coached the program’s first CSCAA All-American selection (Sonia Perez in 2014), nine Collegeswimming.com Mid-Major All-Americans, three conference swimmers of the year selections and four conference diver of the year selections. Under Horner’s direction, FIU has accumulated 28 individual conference championships.
Horner has pulled talent from all over the globe to create a championship program as his 2014-15 squad was comprised of student-athletes from 12 different countries (France, Sweden, Italy, England, Bolivia, Iceland, Canada, Poland, Slovakia, Botswana, South Africa and the United States).
Knowing the importance of hard work in the classroom, Horner has led the Panthers to Nike CSCAA Scholar All-America Team (team GPA of 3.0 or higher) recognition in eight of the nine semesters at the helm.
To go along with the program’s success in the classroom, the swimming and diving team has exceled in the community under Horner as part of his emphasis on the complete development of his student-athletes. As one of the department’s most-active volunteers, the swimming and diving team earned the 2013-14 CHAMPS/Life Skills Cup Award at last year’s FIU Athletics Banquet, given to the team that shows a highest level of commitment to academic excellence, athletic excellence, personal development, career development and service.
Fans are encouraged to follow the Panthers on Twitter (@FIUSwimDive), Instagram (FIU_SWIM_DIVE) and become a fan on Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSwimmingAndDiving) for all the latest Swimming and Diving news.