Van Horn Named Regional Coach of the Year

Lincoln -- The American Baseball Coaches Association has tabbed University of Nebraska Head Baseball Coach Dave Van Horn its 2000 Midwest Region Coach of the Year after leading the Huskers to their best season in school history.

Van Horn will be honored at the annual ABCA National Convention in Nashville, Jan. 4-7, 2001 at the Opryland Hotel. The national coach of the year award went to LSU's Skip Bertman, the South Region selection. Other regional coach of the year honors went to Peter Hughes, Boston College (Northeast); Sam Piraro, San Jose State (West); Tony Robichaux, Louisiana-Lafayette (South Central); Mike Martin, Florida State (Atlantic); Fred Hill, Rutgers (East) and Joe Hindelang, Penn State (Mideast).

Van Horn was selected after Nebraska compiled a 51-17 record in 2000 and finished one win shy of advancing to its first-ever NCAA College World Series. The Huskers also won their second straight Big 12 Tournament title, captured their first NCAA regional championship and led the nation with a 3.14 earned run average.

Among Big 12 schools, Nebraska ranked first in nine offensive categories including batting average (.325), home runs (76) and stolen bases (126). On the mound, Nebraska turned in the league's lowest ERA, opponent batting average (.240), and average for fewest walks allowed per nine innings (2.5).

Van Horn is 117-55 in three years at Nebraska, leading the Huskers to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances and a 93-35 record in the past two seasons. Van Horn's teams have compiled a 47-31 Big 12 record in three seasons, including a 21-9 mark and second place regular-season finish in 2000.