Lander Basketball 1 - Lander University

The Finis Horne Years 1968-97
Finis Horne, who launched Lander University’s
men’s basketball program in 1968, retired on
June 30, 1997, after 29 years and 491 victories.
Horne, who was inducted into the Lander Athletics
Hall of Fame on Oct. 9, 1999 and the S.C. Athletics
Hall of Fame in June 2011,
established himself as the
winningest active coach in
South Carolina and recorded
a 15-12 record during
his final year.
Following a 21-9 record
in the 1993-94 season,
Horne was named PBAC
Coach of the Year when
the then-Senators won the
PBAC Tournament and
earned an automatic berth into the NCAA Division II
National Tournament.
In 1994-95 the Senators did it again. Lander finished
the season 21-9, won the PBAC tournament and advanced
to the national tournament.
While a member of the NAIA, Lander won District 6
regular season titles in 1977-78, 1978-79 and 1979-80,
and reached the District 6 tournament championship
game in 1976-77, 1979-80, 1980-81, 1987-88 and
1988-89.
Horne was voted the NAIA District 6 Coach of the
Year in 1972-73, 1978-79, 1979-80, 1987-88 and
1989-90; and the NAIA District 6 Administrator of the
Year in 1986. He served as vice chairman of District 6
from 1974-80 and chair from 1981-86.
Horne was voted the NAIA Palmetto State Conference
Coach of the Year in 1989-90; the NAIA Area 7
Coach of the Year in 1980; and the PBAC Coach of
the Year in 1993-94.
Coach Horne is married to Dr. Bettie Horne and
they have twin daughters. Nina Horne Peterson lives
in Oakland, Calif., with her husband, David, and
daughter, Emma. Sabra lives in Washington, D.C.
Horne is a veteran of the US Navy, and a member of
VFW, Kiwanis Club and the Greenwood First Baptist
Church.
Born April 26, 1936, in Kentucky, Horne earned an
associate of arts degree from Bethel (Ky.) College in
1963, a bachelor’s degree in physical education from
The Horne Record
Year Won Loss
1968-69 4 22
1969-70 10 22
1970-71 14 16
1971-72 12 16
1972-73 18 9
1973-74 6 20
1974-75 16 12
1975-76 22 10
1976-77 19 13
1977-78 21 9
1978-79 26 6
1979-80 29 5
1980-81 25 9
1981-82 21 11
1982-83 16 16
1983-84 13 17
1984-85 20 11
1985-86 21 11
1986-87 10 18
1987-88 25 6
1988-89 26 8
1989-90 23 7
1990-91 11 17
1991-92 2 26
1992-93 5 24
1993-94 21 9
1994-95 21 9
1995-96 19 8
1996-97 15 12
29-Year Total 491 379
Campbellsville (Ky.) College in 1966 and a master’s
in physical education from Western Kentucky University
in 1968. He has done postgraduate work in counseling
at the University of South Carolina.
In 1968, Horne was hired by Lander to establish
a varsity basketball program. In 1971, he was also
appointed Lander’s first athletics director. Under his
leadership, Lander’s intercollegiate athletics program
grew to 11 men’s and women’s athletic teams, including
several which have risen to national and regional
prominence in the NAIA and NCAA Division II.
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