Dave Van Horn, the 65‑year‑old head coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks, has been selected for the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame, a honor that will be formally presented at the ABCA Convention in Chicago on January 8, 2027.
Van Horn arrives at the Hall with a career record of 974‑494, placing him second in Arkansas history for wins and making him one of the most successful coaches in the SEC. Over three decades he has guided teams to ten College World Series appearances, captured numerous conference championships, and led Arkansas to its lone SEC Tournament title in 2021, while also steering Northwestern State and Nebraska to regular‑season conference crowns.
His journey began at Texarkana Community College, continued with a national championship at Central Missouri State in 1994, and progressed through Division I stops at Northwestern State, Nebraska, and finally Arkansas, where he has spent the past 24 seasons. In 32 seasons as a Division I coach he has taken 10 teams to the College World Series, and his 1,294 victories are the most for an active coach.
A mentor and a builder
Under Van Horn’s leadership, Arkansas has produced three Golden Spikes Award winners, and his No. 8 jersey was retired by McLennan College earlier this year, underscoring his lasting impact on the sport. Among the many players who have flourished under his tutelage are Andrew Benintendi, Kevin Kopps, Wehiwa Aloy, Tim Mead, Beauford Sanders, Ritch Price, Scott Berry, Brian Shoop and Stu Fritz.
Hall of Fame lineage
Van Horn’s induction follows the footsteps of Norm DeBriyn, his former coach and the man who hired him as a graduate assistant in 1982; DeBriyn was inducted into the ABCA Hall of Fame in 2003, linking the two in a rare coach‑coach lineage. The honor adds to a series of hall of fame recognitions that include his 2019 induction into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame and his 2024 placement in the UA Sports Hall of Honor.
Beyond the diamond
Before his coaching career, Van Horn earned All‑American honors at McLennan College, was a two‑time All‑American player, and later saw his No. 8 jersey retired at his alma mater, a testament to his dual legacy as player and coach. His induction will mark the sixth Hall of Fame honor of his career and the fourth as a coach, cementing his place among the sport’s most influential figures.