Northern Kentucky University announced it is extending its contract for head men’s basketball coach Darrin Horn by two years.
Announced Friday, this makes Horn “the highest paid coach in the Horizon League through June 30, 2027 with an additional year extension following the 2023-24 school year,” according to NKU.
The move comes after NKU ended its second run in the NCAA tournament under coach Horn. Horn just concluded his fourth season in Highland Heights where he has led the Norse to a 79-45 record overall, brought home two Horizon League Tournament titles and taken the team to the NCAA tournament twice.
This year alone included a Horizon League Championship and a trip to the NCAA Tournament, nearly defeating no. 1 seed Houston. Horn has also gone 52-24 in Horizon League play and the Norse have reached the Horizon League’s Championship game in three of his four campaigns as head coach.
The decision to extend his contract fell under Vice President and Director of Athletics Christina Roybal, who said the extension is not only a commitment to the coach but also the program.
“Coach Horn has done a tremendous job leading our men’s basketball program and we want him to continue to do so for many years to come,” Roybal said. “He and his staff have lifted the program back to national prominence and the exposure the men’s basketball program brings is not only important for our department, but also for the university and the entire region.”