NKU signs Darrin Horn to lucrative extension, now highest-paid coach in Horizon

Northern Kentucky is going all-in on Glasgow native Darrin Horn, signing the 50-year-old head coach to a lucrative contract extension to make him the highest-paid coach in the Horizon League.

The deal will keep him in Highland Heights through the 2026-27 season, one that also includes NKU having the highest assistant salary pool in the conference, full-time staff additions and travel upgrades, among other resources. It’s Horn’s reward for leading the Norse to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2019, leading the program to a 22-13 record and a conference championship in 2022-23.

NKU Vice President and Director of Athletics Christina Roybal announced the extension Friday morning.

“I’d like to thank Interim President Bonita Brown and VP of Athletics Christina Roybal for their belief and continued support of NKU Men’s basketball,” Horn said. “There is great tradition here and I am excited about the shared vision with administration to continue to grow our program together as we serve our student-athletes and the NKU and Northern Kentucky communities.” 

Horn also led the program to a Horizon League title and a spot in the Big Dance in 2020 before the NCAA Tournament was canceled due to COVID-19. He’s had winning seasons all four years at NKU, accumulating an overall record of 79-45 in that span.

“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.”  

A former guard at Western Kentucky (1991-95), Horn previously served as the head coach of the Hilltoppers from 2003-08 before making the move to South Carolina, coaching the Gamecocks from 2008-12. He was fired and took a three-year break from the game before heading to Texas as an assistant coach from 2015-19.

Now after four seasons of success with the Norse, the program is pushing all of its chips in on the Glasgow native.