Dave Van Horn is heading to the Hall of Fame.
The Arkansas head baseball coach has been named to the American Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Fame as part of its Class of 2027.
Van Horn is one of seven coaches who’ll be formally recognized at the ABCA Hall of Fame Banquet on Jan. 8, 2027, during the 83rd annual ABCA Convention in Chicago.
It’s the highest honor the organization gives out, and he’s earned every bit of it.
To be considered, a coach must have served as a head coach and held ABCA membership for at least 15 years while making meaningful contributions to the sport at the local, national or international level and demonstrating strong character and leadership throughout their career.
What Van Horn has built at Fayetteville
The three-time SEC Coach of the Year just wrapped up his 24th season leading the Razorbacks.
He’s the second-winningest coach in program history, and his 1,518 career wins are the most of any active Division I head coach in the country.
Since taking over his alma mater in 2003 from retiring legend Norm DeBriyn, Van Horn has guided the Hogs to eight College World Series appearances, including a runner-up finish in 2018 and five top-five finishes overall.
Arkansas has also made 22 NCAA Tournament trips on his watch. Van Horn won three SEC overall titles in 2004, 2021 and 2023, claimed eight SEC Western Division championship. He captured one SEC Tournament title in 2021.
His players have earned three Golden Spikes Awards — Andrew Benintendi in 2015, Kevin Kopps in 2021 and Wehiwa Aloy in 2025 — along with two Dick Howser Trophies. The program has produced 43 All-America honorees, 59 All-SEC selections and 155 MLB draft picks across his tenure.
Eleven Razorbacks developed under Van Horn have gone in the first round of the draft.
Following in Norm DeBriyn’s footsteps
Van Horn isn’t the first Arkansas coach to earn this distinction.
He’s following the man he replaced. DeBriyn remains the program’s all-time wins leader with 1,161 victories. He was inducted into the ABCA Hall of Fame as the Class of 2003.
That makes Van Horn just the second Razorback to earn the honor.
Van Horn was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 2019. The UA Sports Hall of Honor in 2024 inducted him in 2024.
The ABCA recognition puts the capstone on a legacy that’s been decades in the making.
Key takeaways
- Van Horn will be formally inducted at the ABCA Hall of Fame Banquet on Jan. 8, 2027, in Chicago as part of a seven-coach Class of 2027.
- His 1,518 career wins are the most among all active Division I head coaches, and he’s one of only five coaches in history with 300 or more SEC wins.
- Van Horn becomes just the second Arkansas coach inducted into the ABCA Hall of Fame, joining predecessor Norm DeBriyn who was part of the Class of 2003.
