ABCA Also Tabs Horton National Coach of Year Aug. 25, 2004– Mt. Pleasant, MI
George Horton added another trophy to his overloaded Cal State Fullerton
office Wednesday when he was selected national coach of the year by the
American Baseball Coaches Association.
Horton guided the Titans (47-22) to their fourth national championship
this season, rebounding from a 15-16 start to win 32 of their final 38
games including a 2-0 sweep of top-seeded Texas in the championship series
of the College World Series.
Horton earlier received similar honors from Collegiate
Baseball. In 2003 he won the same award from Baseball America.
Horton will be honored at the ABCA National Convention at the Opryland
Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, on Jan. 7.
While also receiving West Regional Coach of the Year honors, Horton will
be joined by this group of peers: Atlantic Region - Brian O'Connor, Virginia;
East Regional - Randy Mazey, East Carolina; Mid-East Region - John Anderson,
Minnesota; Mid-West Region - Augie Garrido, Texas; Northeast Region -
Charlie Hickey, Central Connecticut State; Northeast Region - Ed Blankmeyer,
Saint John's; South Region - Dave Perno, Georgia; and South Central Region
- Jim Gilligan, Lamar.
Horton has compiled a 356-154-1 (.698) record in eight seasons at his
alma mater and advanced to the NCAA Championship Tournament each year.
He has won five Big West Conference titles, four NCAA Regionals, four
NCAA Super Regionals and is 10-7 with a first, two thirds and a fifth-place
finish in four trips to Omaha.
