The university’s John Drummond Complex, which houses the Finis Horne Arena and the Joe V. Chandler PhysicalEducation and Exercise Studies Center, opened in 1993. Basketball fans can watch the Bearcats play in the2,500-seat arena.The <strong>Lander</strong> athletic training room is a state-of-the-art facility whichfeatures a computerized Biodex machine.The <strong>Lander</strong> <strong>University</strong> Auxiliary Gymnasium provides extra practicecourts, intramural courts, and a great summer camp facility, as well asan indoor running track.36 <strong>Lander</strong> BasketballThe state-of-the-art weight room has free weights and weight machines,along with aerobic equipment, including treadmills, eliptical trainers,step machines and stationary bicycles.
The Finis Horne Years 1968-97Finis Horne, who launched <strong>Lander</strong> <strong>University</strong>’smen’s basketball program in 1968, retired onJune 30, 1997, after 29 years and 491 victories.Horne, who was inducted into the <strong>Lander</strong> AthleticsHall of Fame on Oct. 9, 1999 and the S.C. AthleticsHall of Fame in June 2011,established himself as thewinningest active coach inSouth Carolina and recordeda 15-12 record duringhis final year.Following a 21-9 recordin the 1993-94 season,Horne was named PBACCoach of the Year whenthe then-Senators won thePBAC Tournament andearned an automatic berth into the NCAA Division IINational Tournament.In 1994-95 the Senators did it again. <strong>Lander</strong> finishedthe season 21-9, won the PBAC tournament and advancedto the national tournament.While a member of the NAIA, <strong>Lander</strong> won District 6regular season titles in 1977-78, 1978-79 and 1979-80,and reached the District 6 tournament championshipgame in 1976-77, 1979-80, 1980-81, 1987-88 and1988-89.Horne was voted the NAIA District 6 Coach of theYear in 1972-73, 1978-79, 1979-80, 1987-88 and1989-90; and the NAIA District 6 Administrator of theYear in 1986. He served as vice chairman of District 6from 1974-80 and chair from 1981-86.Horne was voted the NAIA Palmetto State ConferenceCoach of the Year in 1989-90; the NAIA Area 7Coach of the Year in 1980; and the PBAC Coach ofthe Year in 1993-94.Coach Horne is married to Dr. Bettie Horne andthey have twin daughters. Nina Horne Peterson livesin Oakland, Calif., with her husband, <strong>David</strong>, anddaughter, Emma. Sabra lives in Washington, D.C.Horne is a veteran of the US Navy, and a member ofVFW, Kiwanis Club and the Greenwood First BaptistChurch.Born April 26, 1936, in Kentucky, Horne earned anassociate of arts degree from Bethel (Ky.) College in1963, a bachelor’s degree in physical education fromThe Horne RecordYear Won Loss1968-69 4 221969-70 10 221970-71 14 161971-72 12 161972-73 18 91973-74 6 201974-75 16 121975-76 22 101976-77 19 131977-78 21 91978-79 26 61979-80 29 51980-81 25 91981-82 21 111982-83 16 161983-84 13 171984-85 20 111985-86 21 111986-87 10 181987-88 25 61988-89 26 81989-90 23 71990-91 11 171991-92 2 261992-93 5 241993-94 21 91994-95 21 91995-96 19 81996-97 15 1229-Year Total 491 379Campbellsville (Ky.) College in 1966 and a master’sin physical education from Western Kentucky <strong>University</strong>in 1968. He has done postgraduate work in counselingat the <strong>University</strong> of South Carolina.In 1968, Horne was hired by <strong>Lander</strong> to establisha varsity basketball program. In 1971, he was alsoappointed <strong>Lander</strong>’s first athletics director. Under hisleadership, <strong>Lander</strong>’s intercollegiate athletics programgrew to 11 men’s and women’s athletic teams, includingseveral which have risen to national and regionalprominence in the NAIA and NCAA Division II.<strong>Lander</strong> Basketball 37