Florida International University has extended the contract of head coach Randy Horner through 2020, setting him up for at least a 10 year run at the helm of the south-Florida-based program.
“Randy Horner has done a tremendous job leading our swimming and diving program,” FIU Executive Director of Sports and Entertainment Pete Garcia said. “What our student-athletes have accomplished in the pool, in the classroom and in the community, is outstanding. We are thrilled that FIU swimming and diving will continue to be under the guidance of Coach Horner.”
“It’s nice to feel appreciated and wanted,” Horner said. “Pete and Julie (Berg – Senior Associate AD/SWA) have shown me their commitment to the traditions we started here at FIU by extending my contract once again. I could not be happier.”
The Panthers women’s-only team has won 2-straight Conference USA team championships. Last year Horner was named the Conference Coach of the Year after his team won 15 of 21 events for 954 points – the second-most in conference history. He has won the award in 3 of the last 6 seasons.
Academically, FIU has won CSCAA Scholar All-America honors (higher than a 3.0 team GPA in any given semester) for 7 consecutive semesters.
In 6 seasons, FIU has had 4 conference swimmers of the year, 5 conference divers of the year, and his team has won 40 conference championship event titles.
The team has scored once at the NCAA Division I Championship in its history – 2014, where they picked up 4 points to tie for 47th.
Holding true to the school’s name, FIU has built its mid-major success on the back of a roster full of international swimmers. In the 2016-2017 season, 18 of the team’s 28 swimmers and divers hail from outside of the United States.